Armand Castelmary

Armand Castelmary, real name Comte Armand de Castan (16 August 1834 – 10 February 1897), was a French operatic bass. He created roles in three major premieres at the Paris Opera – Don Diego in L'Africaine by Meyerbeer, the Monk in Verdi's Don Carlos (1867), and Horatio in Ambroise Thomas's Hamlet (1868). Castelmary also appeared at opera houses in England and the United States, and died onstage at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, during a performance of Martha by Friedrich von Flotow.

Career and death Castelmary was born in Toulouse. He was a member of the Paris Opera from 1863 to 1870, where he created the three significant roles in the French grand operas listed above. He was married (later divorced) to the soprano Marie Sasse, who created the role of Élisabeth in Verdi's Don Carlos. He made his debut at the Royal Opera House, London, in 1889 and sang there in many subsequent seasons. His funeral mass was celebrated on February 10, 1897, at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Manhattan.