Macron State Dinner Ends Up in a Singalong

French leader croons classic ballads at ritzy event in Armenia
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted May 5, 2026 12:42 PM CDT
Macron Serenades an Unusual State Dinner
Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan, left, French President Emmanuel Macron, center, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan hold awards following a state dinner after the European Political Community in Yerevan, Armenia, Monday, May 4, 2026.   (Tigran Mehrabyan/Armenian Prime Minister Press Office via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron stole some of the spotlight from other world leaders in Armenia's capital Monday when he crooned classic ballads, including "La Bohème," at a glitzy state dinner. Macron was joined by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on drums and celebrated jazz musician Vahagn Hayrapetyan on piano on Monday night in Yerevan, reports the AP. In addition to "La Bohème," which was recorded by Armenian-French musician Charles Aznavour in 1965, Macron also sang "Les Feuilles Mortes" by Yves Montand. (Video here.)

The event at Armenia's presidential residence on Monday night was held in Macron's honor. The French leader was in town for a state visit that coincided with a gathering of the European Political Community and a historic European Union summit, and discussion with British PM Keir Starmer over a massive UK-EU loan to Ukraine, notes the Telegraph. Pashinyan, who took office in 2018, more regularly flexes his musical prowess as part of his musical group Varchaband, which held its debut concert in Yerevan at the end of January. The Armenian leader is also well known for posting videos of himself listening to music on Instagram, with his musical taste seemingly spanning from Taylor Swift to Travis Scott and A$AP Rocky.

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