The double-disc set
Aznavour Live: Palais des Congres was ostensibly recorded during 1997-98, though the first song is a duet between
Aznavour and
Edith Piaf (who died in 1963). That irregularity aside,
Aznavour is in excellent voice, and the backing orchestra is able to translate the moods of many different kinds of material, from playful songs like Pierre Roche's "Le Feutre Taupé" to tender ballads like "Plus Bleu Que Tes Yeux." The sound quality is amazingly vivid too, and this Palais des Congres concert is one of the highlights of
Aznavour's long career. ~ John Bush