Lévon Sayan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lévon Sayan
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Sayan (left) and Charles Aznavour
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| Born |
Levon Sanosyan
17 December 1934 Aix-en-Provence, France
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| Nationality | French and Armenian |
| Occupation | tenor Producer Impresario |
| Years active | 1964 – 2013 |
| Known for | Manager of: Charles Aznavour Liza Minnelli Plácido Domingo Mario del Monaco |
Lévon Sayan (born 17 December 1934) is a French-Armenian impresario and producer. An impresario is someone who organizes and manages concerts or shows. He is also an operatic tenor, which means he is a male singer with a high voice, performing in operas.
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Early Life and Career Beginnings
Lévon Sayan was born in Aix-en-Provence, France. His family were survivors of the Armenian genocide from Sivas. They had tried to move to the United States.
Sayan served in the French army in Indochina. In 1956, he moved to the US. There, he worked as the President of the New York Association of VIP hairdressing.
Becoming an Opera Singer
Lévon Sayan began his career as a classical singer in 1966. He recorded his first music disc with Renée Doria, a famous French opera singer.
As a tenor, he sang in many well-known operas. These included "Rigoletto", "Faust", and "Carmen".
Managing Famous Artists
Beyond his singing career, Sayan became a successful impresario. He managed some of the biggest names in music and entertainment.
He worked with the famous American singer and actress Liza Minnelli. He also managed the world-renowned opera singers Plácido Domingo and Mario del Monaco.
From 1981 to 2014, Lévon Sayan was one of the main managers for Charles Aznavour. Aznavour was a legendary French-Armenian singer and songwriter.
Together, Sayan and Aznavour also founded a charity. It was called Aznavour for Armenia. This organization helped people in Armenia.
Awards and Recognition
Lévon Sayan has received many honors for his work and contributions. He is an officer of the "Légion d'honneur". This is the highest French order of merit.
In 1989, he visited Armenia for the first time. In 2008, both Aznavour and Sayan were given Armenian citizenship. This was granted by the President of Armenia.
Armenian Honors
On May 23, 2003, the president of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, honored Sayan. He received the Khorenatsi medal, a high Armenian award.
In 2006, he was given the "Special Prize" at the Armenian National Music Award. In 2009, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree. This awarded Lévon Sayan with the Order of Honor.
See also
In Spanish: Levon Sayan para niños
