Macron sings Aznavour's 'La Bohème' at Armenian state dinner

During his official visit to Armenia, French President Emmanuel Macron demonstrated his well-known passion for French chanson by performing Charles Aznavour's iconic song "La Bohème" at a state dinner in Yerevan. This musical interlude, captured on video, featured Macron singing with a microphone while seated at a piano, accompanied by a pianist and, notably, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on drums.

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La musique est, à leurs yeux, un moyen de témoigner de l’amitié entre la France et l’Arménie.

The choice of Aznavour, an artist of Armenian descent, was deliberate, underscoring the deep historical and cultural ties between France and Armenia. Macron's performance, though described as having an uneven vocal quality, was intended as a symbol of French-Armenian friendship. This gesture comes as France continues to support Armenia's "European turn," a strategic pivot away from historical reliance on Russia.

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On s’était un peu habitué, pendant des décennies, à ce que l’Arménie (...) soit en quelque sorte un satellite de la Russie.

Macron explicitly acknowledged Armenia's move towards Europe and its pursuit of peace with Azerbaijan, calling it the "only reasonable" path. He remarked on Armenia's decades-long position as a "satellite of Russia" and praised its decision to break free from that constraint. From a French perspective, this visit and Macron's engagement highlight France's role as a key European partner, actively encouraging and supporting nations in the South Caucasus as they navigate complex geopolitical shifts and seek closer ties with the European Union. The cultural diplomacy, exemplified by the song performance, serves to strengthen these political and strategic alignments.

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L’Arménie a fait le choix de sortir de cette entrave et de se tourner vers l’Europe. On ne peut pas faire comme si cela n’existait pas.