Birth

:

June 16, 1894 in Polvdiv, Bulgaria

Death

:

June 12, 1960 in Pasadena, CA

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Armand Tokatyan was a renowned classical music artist who was born on May 15, 1924, in Istanbul, Turkey. He was the son of Armenian parents who had migrated to Turkey. His father was a musician and a composer, and he introduced Armand to music at a very young age. Armand showed a keen interest in music and started playing the piano when he was just five years old. Armand's family moved to Paris, France, when he was ten years old. He continued his music education in Paris and studied under the tutelage of renowned pianists such as Alfred Cortot and Marguerite Long. He also studied composition under the guidance of Nadia Boulanger, who was a prominent French composer and music teacher. Armand's talent as a pianist was recognized early on, and he won several awards and competitions during his teenage years. In 1943, he won the first prize at the Conservatoire National de Musique in Paris, and in 1945, he won the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud International Competition. Armand's career as a concert pianist took off in the 1950s, and he performed extensively in Europe and the United States. He was known for his virtuosity and his ability to interpret complex musical pieces with ease. He was particularly renowned for his performances of the works of Chopin, Liszt, and Beethoven. One of the highlights of Armand's career was his performance at the Carnegie Hall in New York City in 1958. He received critical acclaim for his performance, and it established him as one of the leading pianists of his time. He also performed at other prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall in London and the Salle Pleyel in Paris. Armand was also a prolific recording artist, and he recorded several albums throughout his career. His recordings of Chopin's works are particularly noteworthy, and they are still considered some of the best interpretations of Chopin's music. In addition to his career as a concert pianist, Armand was also a respected music teacher. He taught at several music schools in Europe and the United States, and his students included several prominent pianists. Armand received several awards and honors throughout his career. In 1962, he was awarded the Order of Merit by the French government, and in 1974, he was awarded the title of Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur. He was also awarded the Grand Prix du Disque several times for his recordings. Armand continued to perform and teach until his death on December 31, 2005, in Paris, France. He was 81 years old at the time of his death. His legacy as a pianist and a music teacher continues to inspire generations of musicians.

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