Armand Tokatyan

Armand Tokatyan (Armenian: Արման Թոքաթյան; Bulgarian: Арман Токатян; June 16, 1894 – June 12, 1960) was an operatic tenor. An Armenian born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, he travelled to Egypt with his parents where he sang in cafés to a 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. Many recordings were made of his performances.

Dorothy Kirsten in her autobiography writes the following about Tokatyan:

I recall how grateful I was to have him as a partner for my first performance of [La Traviata] at the Met because there had been no orchestra rehearsal. Tokatyan afforded me a sense of security, having sung Alfredo innumerable times in that theatre. His authority onstage and his ingratiating manner made me very comfortable. He seemed to be just right for the role. As Alfredo his noble appearance helped me create the illusion that I was desperately in love with him.

Tokatyan died in Pasadena, CA of a heart attack on June 12, 1960.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 16, 1894 (Plovdiv), Died June 12, 1960 (Pasadena)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1930

Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor vocal

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor CVE-57594 12-in. 12/10/1929 Un dì all azzurro spazio Armand Tokatyan Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor CVE-57595 12-in. 12/10/1929 Ch'ella mi creda libero Armand Tokatyan Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor CVE-58163 12-in. 1/6/1930 L'ultima canzone Armand Tokatyan Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor CVE-58164 12-in. 1/6/1930 Mattinata Armand Tokatyan Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor CVE-59724 12-in. 3/25/1930 Lolita Armand Tokatyan Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BVE-59751 10-in. 4/11/1930 Nouvelle berceuse Armand Tokatyan Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BVE-59752 10-in. 4/11/1930 Chant d' emigre Armand Tokatyan Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BVE-62314 10-in. 5/27/1930 Haiastan Armand Tokatyan Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor BVE-62315 10-in. 5/27/1930 Sirouhis Armand Tokatyan Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Victor [Trial 1925-01-28-01] 10-in. 1/28/1925 O paradiso Armand Tokatyan Tenor vocal solo, with piano vocalist, tenor vocal  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tokatyan, Armand," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/107233.

Tokatyan, Armand. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/107233.

"Tokatyan, Armand." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/107233

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