(5 Oct 2018) France paid tribute to Charles Aznavour on Friday in a solemn and subdued ceremony that contrasted sharply with the singer's joyful character.
One of France's most famous personalities, Aznavour died earlier this week at 94.
On a mild, sunny morning in Paris, politicians and celebrities gathered near the site of Napoleon's tomb in the courtyard of Les Invalides, where French president Emmanuel Macron welcomed Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Former French Presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande and actor Jean-Paul Belmondo were among those attending the ceremony.
Aznavour, born to Armenian parents who fled to Paris in the 1920s, became one of the Armenian diaspora's most recognised voices and a vocal defender during a performing career spanning eight decades.
Covered by a French tricolor flag, Aznavour's coffin arrived in the courtyard carried by military personal to the sound of a traditional Armenian tune.
A spray of red, blue and orange flowers - the colours of the Armenian flag - was then laid close to the casket.
I bow before you, great French, great Armenian, great artist, and great humanist," Pashinyan said.
Born Shanoun Varenagh Aznavourian, the singer cut the Armenian suffix from his stage name but never forgot his Armenian roots.
He founded Aznavour and Armenia, a nonprofit organization created after the devastating earthquake that hit Soviet Armenia in 1988.
His movie credits include Atom Egoyan's 2002 "Ararat," a film that dealt with the 1915 massacres of up to 1.5 million Armenians under the Ottoman Empire.
Aznavour campaigned internationally to get the killings formally deemed a genocide.
Speaking after Pashinyan, Macron said that "in everyone's heart, he will continue on his journey, walking tall, a hand in his pocket, with this half smile we all recognised".
"So with us, he will cross the threshold of this century that he didn't live to, for in the end never leave us again. Because in France, poets never die." Macron said, praising Aznavour for the quality of his lyrics and the promotion of France.
The ceremony ended with a rendition of Aznavour's hit "Emmenez-Moi," which was played as his coffin was carried away.
Meanwhile, fans of Aznavour watched the ceremony from a giant screen outside Les Invalides in Paris.
Houria Hadj-Hamou attended the ceremony with her daughter.
"My children grew up with his music. He represents the French and even the world culture," she said.
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