November 26, 2013 – 09:40 AMT

While only 10,000 Israelis were able to get tickets for Charles Aznavour’s concert at Tel Aviv’s Nokia Arena, which was sold out well in advance, Aznavour himself was just as keen to meet a famous Israeli, The Jerusalem Press reports.

Long before his arrival in Israel, Aznavour’s people had been in touch with the office of President Shimon Peres with a request for a meeting between the president and the famous French singer. Peres, of course, acceded to Aznavour’s request, not just because of his fame or their shared history, but primarily because he is an avid Francophile who delights in all forms of French culture. His appetite for all things French had been whetted earlier last week by the amount of time in different venues and under different circumstances that he had spent with French President Francois Hollande. Peres went backstage to meet with Aznavour prior to the performance, which may have accounted for the reason that Aznavour was a little late in meeting with his audience. Aznavour, who at 89 (he turns 90 next May) is just a year younger than the president, complimented Peres on his appearance, his energy his efforts in the quest for peace. JPost says.

At a news conference at the Dan Hotel, where he was staying, Aznavour said he supported the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, and he had hoped to perform in the Palestinian territories as well.

Though he has visited Israel previously, Aznavour, one of the most successful and prolific stage and recording artists in the world, had never before performed in Israel, and the fans, including Peres, who later took his seat in the audience, couldn’t wait to hear him. They were not disappointed. During a twohour concert, accompanied by an orchestra and back-up singers, the charismatic Aznavour sang a medley of his most famous songs, including “She,” which he performed together with Israeli singer Achinoam Nini (she in Hebrew, and he in French). The audience, including Peres, sang along, JPost says.

Aznavour, who has composed some 1,000 songs and sold more than 100 million records, was voted as “Entertainer of the Century” by CNN in 1998.