Charles Aznavour and a Night of 100 Armenian Music Stars

LOS ANGELES—Legendary French Armenian singer Charles Aznavour will be among the more than 100 Armenian music stars honored on Sun., Dec. 13 during the “M Club Music Video Awards” and “Armenian Music Awards” show.

The poster of the Dec. 13 event.
The poster of the Dec. 13 event.

For the first time in Armenian entertainment history, the 7,100-seat Nokia Theatre at L.A. LIVE will be the venue for the joint Armenian music and video awards show. Producers Sevak Petrosyan and Arthur Kokozian have brought the 3rd annual M Club Music Video Awards and 10th annual Armenian Music Awards together this year on one stage. And it promises to be a spectacular event that will raise the bar for all future Armenian award and entertainment shows.

Resources from two U.S.-based production companies and three international, local, and Armenian television networks are being synergized to present to attendees the most fascinating nominees from various genres and categories, including the most popular and most critically acclaimed Armenian singers, musicians, albums, and music videos.

Charles Aznavour will be recognized for his lifetime of achievements, and daughter Seta Aznavour will also perform, along with other popular acts including VISA, Element Band, and Reincarnation. The father of Serj Tankian (System of a Down) is slated to perform and is rumored to be bringing along a special guest. (The guest, perhaps Tankian himself, wants to keep his appearance a mystery until the night of the show.)

Armenian divas Nune Yesayan and Shushan Petrosyan, local favorites Karnig Sarkissian and Harut Pamboukjian, and global sensation Arto Tuncboyaciyan from the Armenian Navy Band, will also come together that night to perform.

Giving a special performance is Russian superstar Irina Allegrova, who also has a surprise for the Nokia audience.

BBC Award recipient (and newcomer from Armenia) Silva Hakobian, along with Canadian Mariam Matossian, and other top names from South America, Europe, and the homeland will join the festivities.

Former EuroVision top-ten contestants Andre and Hayko, along with international sensation Armenchik, rappers Misho and Apeh Jan, Jazz singer Arthur Ispirian, and pop star Hovhaness Shahbazian will also appear.

International mainstream music sensations Armen Movsisyan, Victor Espinola, and Alexander Zhiroff—who have collaborated with top artists like Yanni, Ray Charles, and Tonny Bennett—will perform as well. The trio was most recently part of the sold-out Yanni show last June at the Nokia.

“We are going to share our music because we are sharing it with our people,” said Armen Movsisyan. “Armenian music is my culture. It is my heritage. It’s my music. And we want to dedicate our art to my people.”

Many surprises are planned throughout the four-hour program, including special appearances by a few Hollywood legends like TV start Mike Connors, top Armenian sportsmen like Ultimate Fighting Champion Vanes Martirosyan, and a few Armenian global and reality show stars, who want to keep their appearance a last-minute surprise.

“This show promises to be the biggest event of the year, because coming together are the most popular, the most talented, and the most legendary Armenian artists from around the world,” said Sevak Petrosyan of Meridian Studios, the producer of the M Club Video Awards. “There is so much excitement in the community, and we hope the event will be sold-out at least a week before.”

“What is even more unique for this big awards show is that three Armenian television channels are joining forces so that every face on stage and every performance is captured with the best clarity on the big screens at the Nokia,” said Armenian Music Awards producer Arthur Kokozian. “Dozens of cameras will be covering the awards and performances, so that everyone seated anywhere in the Nokia can see every expression on the faces of the performers.”

Among the dozen categories of nominations are Best Soloist, Best Album, Best Electronic, Jazz, Newcomer, Best Video, as well as Best Music Video Director. Hosts include the M Club’s Tatevik Ekizian and ARNT-Shant TV’s Grisha Aghajanian.

Tickets for the star-studded night of music and glamor range from $50 to $200, and are available through Ticketmaster or ARTNticket.com. Phone orders are also available by calling (800) 533-3386. Those living elsewhere in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Armenia will be able to watch the broadcast via H1, the Armenian Public Television station, Armenian Russian Television, Shant, and Horizon Armenian TV.

1 Comment

  1. Armenian Weekly
    Dear Editor,

    The “Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble’s” Director, John Chookasian, was contacted by “The Armenian Music Awards” Coordinator, Mr. Arthur Kokozian and informed that their award winning CD “Passage to Armenia” has been selected to be one of the “Nominations,” in the “Traditional Folk Music” category and placed on their AMA website for people to be able to vote for the group.

    We are quite honored and thrilled to be placed on the AMA website and nominated in this unique category.

    Best Wishes for good health and success in your work and outstanding Armenian publication. Happy holidays.

    Sincerely,

    John Chookasian
    Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble
    (559) 213-1909

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