Opera Scotland

Armand Castelmary Suggest updates

Comte Armand de Castan.

Born Toulouse, 16 August 1834.

Died New York, 10 February 1897.

French bass.

Castelmary's distinguished career began in 1863 with a period at the Paris Opéra, appearing in three major premières - Don Diego in L'africaine (1865), the Monk in Don Carlos (1867) and Horatio in Hamlet (1868). It ended with a fatal heart attack on stage at the Metropolitan Opera during a performance as Sir Tristram Mickleford in Martha.

He made his debut at Covent Garden in 1889, returning regularly thereafter. Operas he sang in at the Opera House include I Rantzau (Mascagni), Amy Robsart (De Lara) and Werther. His first visit to the USA in 1870 was with a French company that toured to New Orleans. He returned in 1879 with Strakosch's company then in 1890 with the Melba-Tamagno company. His Met debut followed in 1893, and he appeared there every year until his death.

Major roles in his repertoire included Méphistophélès and Bertram in Robert le Diable as well as the title role in Mefistofele.