Armand Tokatyan (Tenor) (Plovdiv, Bulgaria 1894 – Pasadena, California 1960)

He travelled to Egypt with his parents where he sang in cafés to favorable response. He was then sent to Paris to study tailoring, but instead sang in Left Bank cafés. In 1914, he returned to Egypt and earned his living by again singing in the cafés. He took up operetta, soon becoming a matinee idol, then in 1919 went to Milan to pursue an opera career. His operatic debut was in 1921 at the Teatro Dal Verme in Puccini's Manon Lescaut. With the help of Italian conductor Giuseppe Bamboschek, he joined the touring Scotti Opera Company in the United States, and was soon noticed by the Metropolitan Opera where he debuted in 1923. For many years he performed there and at many other opera houses in the US and Europe. He was proficient in numerous languages.

Chronology of some appearances

1921 Milan Teatro Dal Verme Manon Lescaut (De Grieux)
1926 Philadelphia  Academy of Music Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)
1927 Philadelphia  Academy of Music Carmen (Don Jose)
1928 Philadelphia  Academy of Music Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)
1928 San Francisco  Civic Auditorium Carmen (Don Jose)
1929 Philadelphia  Academy of Music Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)
1932 Philadelphia  Academy of Music Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)
1935 Philadelphia  Academy of Music Carmen (Don Jose)
1935 Chicago  Civic Opera House Carmen (Don Jose)
1936 Chicago  Civic Opera House Boheme (Rodolfo)
1936 Chicago  Civic Opera House Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1936 New York  Teatro Metropolitan Carmen (Don Jose)
1938 Chicago  Civic Opera House Carmen (Don Jose)
1939 Chicago  Civic Opera House Andrea Chenier (Chenier)
1939 Chicago  Civic Opera House Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1940 Philadelphia  Academy of Music Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

 

Vocalion, USA 1923 - 1925

Trovatore (Verdi): Miserere with Rosa Raisa A 0201

Faust (Gounod): Salut demeure chaste et pure  60056

Manon (Massenet): Ah fuyez, douce image 70008

Carmen (Bizet): Il fior che avevi a me tu dato 70041

Gioconda (Ponchielli): Cielo e mar 70006 11494
Tarantella sincera (de Crescenzo) 70006 11500