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Aznavour's 1st Visit to Armenia: Producing a Memento in Secret

Anna Babajanyan

When Charles Aznavour, the world famous singer-songwriter visited Armenia for the first time in 1964, he was welcomed with jubilation and a deep sense of longing.

The visit was long in coming – both for Aznavour and the people of Armenia.

Preparations were made long in advance in Armenia. Many found unique ways to express the esteem they held for Aznavour.

This memento, now in the possession of Yerevan’s Museum of Science and Technology, was the brainchild of the employees of the Sirious factory in the town of Abovyan at the time and a testament of their love towards the French-Armenian chansonnier.

The employees decided to create a one of a kind souvenir on the occasion of Aznavour’s visit. The occasion was a veritable celebration for them. The entire process became a ‘secret operation’ since such souvenirs were produced in very limited quantities and generally were not officially sold.

Factory employees produced such symbolic items on the sly; without the knowledge of the Soviet authorities. The state well understood that Aznavour’s visit would serve to unite the people of Armenia and ignite a reawakening of the national consciousness.

Generally, when such souvenir pins and medals were produced in the Soviet era (take the ‘Ararat 73’ mementos dedicated to the championship football team and medals dedicated to this or that artist or actor), they were approved by the authorities and produced for sale. Souvenirs bearing the image of Aznavour, however, were produced in totally different conditions.

The Aznavour souvenir now held by the museum (see photo) bears a black and white image of Aznavour. In addition, a smaller number were produced where the glass was infused with colorations via electric current.

The Aznavour mementos mostly made the rounds amongst the factory employees themselves and a close circle of friends. They were passed from hand to hand so that all could relish a little part of the essence of the great chansonnier.  

While we cannot say how many of these Aznavour souvenirs remain today, the one donated to the Museum of Science and Technology last year by a former Sirious factory worker continues to tell the tale of this historic occasion for Armenians. 

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