Charles Aznavour
Charles Aznavour (Vaghinak Aznauryan, born in 1924) is famous French-Armenian singer, songwriter, actor and public figure. He is on the stage more than 60 years, is the author of many of the most unforgettable French songs of the last century and is considered one of the classics of French chanson. His statue is erected in Gyumri, and one of the squares in Yerevan is named after him.
Komitas
Komitas’s (Soghomon Soghomonian – 1869-1936) was composer, musicologist, musician-folklorist, singer, conductor and pedagogue, the founder of Armenian national school of music. He collected and recorded more than 3,000 pieces of folk music, from which only about 1200 was preserved. His choir presented Armenian music in many European countries and was honored with Claude Debussy’s praise. But 1915 was a turning point in the musician’s life. The Ottoman government arrested and deported Komitas along with many other intellectuals to prison camps after which he experienced a mental breakdown and did not recover until the end of his life.
Aram Khachaturian
Another musician is the talented composer Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978) who is classified to the most famous composers of the 20th century by UNESCO. His works are samples of world music treasury. Kachaturian’s masterpieces are played in all corners of the globe the most famous of which is “Saber Dance” from the ballet “Gayane”. Khachaturian’s numerous awards are also evidence of his international fame.
Andre Agassi
Sport comes to implement the music. Andre Agassi (born in 1970), one of the greatest tennis players of all time, has the greatest contribution in this field. He is the first male tennis player who won the “Golden Slam”, also won the all 4 tournaments of Grand Slam in different years, ATP Tour World Championships and Olympic Games.
William Saroyan
American-Armenian writer William Saroyan (1908-1981), who was born in an Armenian working family immigrated to California from Bitlis (Western Armenia), made the decision to become a writer at the age of 15 which was decisive in his life. His charm was his simple and popular language with which he spoke to his readers. Saroyan wrote more than 1500 stories, numerous novels, plays. He won Pulitzer Prize and New York Drama Critics’ Circle award.
Victor Hambardzumyan
Victor Hambardzumyan (1908-1996) was unequalled in the field of astronomy; he was astronomer and astrophysicist one of the founders of theoretical astrophysics. He held all possible academic positions, got a large number of medals and prizes, was elected as a member of three dozen academies, including the world’s five largest academies, twice was
awarded by the Hero of Socialist Labor title, after the independence of the Republic he became Armenia’s national hero, always was on the top of the social scale.
Tigran Petrosian
World Chess Champion from 1963 to 1969 Tigran Petrosian (1929-1984) or “Iron Tigran” as he is reffered sometimes, started to play chess at the age of 8. He was famous due to his almost impenetrable defensive playing style and kept World Champion title for 6 years in row. Being the first Armenian World Champion in the course of history, he played a significant role in the promotion and popularization of chess in Armenia.
