Macron croons classic ballads at a state dinner in Armenia for the French leader

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In this photo distributed by the Armenian Prime Minister Press Office, 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)

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9:50 AM on Tuesday, May 5

The Associated Press

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron stole some of the spotlight from other world leaders in Armenia's capital this week 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. 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.

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.

Pashinyan, who took office in 2018, more regularly flexes his musical prowess as part of his musical group Varchaband. It 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.