Author who never bores; Songs which never get old: Interview with the translator of Aznavour’s books (video in Armenian)

Samvel Gasparyan started his career as a translator when he was a student. He translated from Russian and French. In the 1960s Charles Aznavour was already a renowned singer and people all around the world were listening to his masterpieces. Gasparyan started his career with Aznavour’s songs. Initially, he translated one, two songs. Eventually, Samvel Gasparyan realized that he had to continue it. “There was a literary club in the university headed by Hovhannes Grigoryan. Usually the young students there wrote poems. I was trying to write as well. However, I wasn’t good at it, so I decided to do translations.” 

And just like that, Samvel Gasparyan kicked off his career as a translator. Later, he started to work at the “World of Books” newspaper. Besides the poems, he started to also translate fairytales into Armenian.  “I worked in the publishing sphere and later my cooperation with Newmag publishing house started. Artak Aleksanyan suggested that I translate Aznavour’s book. I agreed to translate just one book, then the translations turned into 3, 4 books. Currently, we are working on translating Aznavour’s three-volume song collection. If I manage to do that as well, I can call myself a translator then.”

Besides the books, Samvel Gasparyan also translates Aznavour’s songs. On Aznavour’s birthday, May 22, the first translation - “Reste” song was premiered. The song is performed by Erik Karapetyan. In the scope of this initiative Newmag plans to translate around 20 songs before 2024. Samvel Gasparyan is assured that all the songs of Charles Aznavour deserve to be translated into Armenian. “During one of the interviews Aznavour is asked - what are you singing about? He answers - about everything. The journalist then asks - will your songs have a long life? Aznavour answers - I am singing about the love of an 18-year-old. Generations come and go; they fall in love while listening to those songs.”

Aznavour was phenomenal. He was successful in everything he did - a great singer, composer, an actor, photographer and a human with a big heart. This is how translator Samvel Gasparyan characterizes Aznavour. Gasparyan met the great artist and had the chance to communicate closely with him.“He is a great singer, a great poet. Most importantly, he was loved and honored due to his personal qualities. People were amazed at his loyalty, dedication and mindfulness. You could see these characteristics, for example, in his friendship with Edith Piaf.”