Raoul Jobin
Encyclopedia
Raoul Jobin, was a French-Canadian operatic tenor
, particularly associated with the French repertory.
, where he first took private voice lessons before studying with Emile Larochelle at the Laval University. He then went to Paris to continue his studies with Mme d'Estainville-Rousset (singing) and Abby Chéreau (stage skills), his exceptional voice quickly captured attention and he made his debut at the Paris Opéra
on July 3, 1930, as Tybalt in Roméo et Juliette
.
From then on, his career made rapid progress. He quickly sang principal tenor roles at both the Opéra and the Opéra-Comique
, as well as in many cities throughout France, Lyons, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Marseilles, etc. He sang mainly the French repertoire, with occasional incursions into the Italian repertoire. With the outbreak of the war, he returned to North America.
He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera
on February 19, 1940, as des Grieux in Manon
. He remained with the company until 1950, where he sang many roles alongside such singers as Lily Pons
, Bidu Sayao
, Licia Albanese
, Rise Stevens
, under conductors such as
Wilfrid Pelletier
and Thomas Beecham
, among many others. He made regular appearances in San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, New Orleans, etc., also appearing in Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, and Buenos Aires.
The war over, he returned to Paris in 1947, where he successfully sang his first major Wagnerian role, Lohengrin
, earning him the nickname "Monsieur Lohengrin". He later sang the role of Walther in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
with equal success. He also created the role of Fabrice Del Dongo in La Chartreuse de Parme by Henri Sauguet
.
Subsequently, Jobin divided his time largely between Europe and America, maintaining his high standard in his accustomed roles while adding new ones, until his retirement from the stage in 1958.
He began teaching at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal, and later at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec
where he notably served as director from 1961-1970. He trained many young Canadian singers, notably Colette Boky
and Huguette Tourangeau
.
He had been created Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur
in 1951, and he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
in 1967.
His son, André Jobin (born in 1933), was also an opera singer, first as a baritone, and later as a tenor. He enjoyed a successful career in both Europe and North America.
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
, particularly associated with the French repertory.
Life and career
Born Joseph Roméo Jobin in Québec City, QuébecQuebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, where he first took private voice lessons before studying with Emile Larochelle at the Laval University. He then went to Paris to continue his studies with Mme d'Estainville-Rousset (singing) and Abby Chéreau (stage skills), his exceptional voice quickly captured attention and he made his debut at the Paris Opéra
Palais Garnier
The Palais Garnier, , is an elegant 1,979-seat opera house, which was built from 1861 to 1875 for the Paris Opera. It was originally called the Salle des Capucines because of its location on the Boulevard des Capucines in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, but soon became known as the Palais Garnier...
on July 3, 1930, as Tybalt in Roméo et Juliette
Roméo et Juliette
Roméo et Juliette is an opéra in five acts by Charles Gounod to a French libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, based on The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. It was first performed at the Théâtre Lyrique , Paris on 27 April 1867...
.
From then on, his career made rapid progress. He quickly sang principal tenor roles at both the Opéra and the Opéra-Comique
Opéra-Comique
The Opéra-Comique is a Parisian opera company, which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with, and for a time took the name of its chief rival the Comédie-Italienne at the Hôtel de Bourgogne, and was also called the...
, as well as in many cities throughout France, Lyons, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Marseilles, etc. He sang mainly the French repertoire, with occasional incursions into the Italian repertoire. With the outbreak of the war, he returned to North America.
He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
on February 19, 1940, as des Grieux in Manon
Manon
Manon is an opéra comique in five acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Henri Meilhac and Philippe Gille, based on the 1731 novel L’histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut by the Abbé Prévost...
. He remained with the company until 1950, where he sang many roles alongside such singers as Lily Pons
Lily Pons
Lily Pons was a French-American operatic soprano and actress who had an active career from the late 1920s through the early 1970s. As an opera singer she specialized in the coloratura soprano repertoire and was particularly associated with the title roles in Léo Delibes' Lakmé and Gaetano...
, Bidu Sayao
Bidu Sayão
Bidú Sayão was a Brazilian opera soprano. One of Brazil's most famous musicians, Sayão was a leading artist of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City from 1937 to 1952.-Life and career:...
, Licia Albanese
Licia Albanese
Licia Albanese is an Italian-born American operatic soprano. Noted especially for her portrayals of the lyric heroines of Verdi and Puccini, Albanese was a leading artist with the Metropolitan Opera of New York from 1940 to 1966...
, Rise Stevens
Risë Stevens
Risë Stevens is a retired American operatic mezzo-soprano.-Professional life:Stevens studied at New York's Juilliard School for three years. She went to Vienna, where she was trained by Marie Gutheil-Schoder and Herbert Graf. She made her début as Mignon in Prague in 1936 and stayed there until...
, under conductors such as
Wilfrid Pelletier
Wilfrid Pelletier
Joseph Louis Wilfrid Pelletier , CC was a Canadian conductor, pianist, composer, and arts administrator. He was instrumental in establishing the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, serving as the orchestra's first artistic director and conductor from 1935-1941...
and Thomas Beecham
Thomas Beecham
Sir Thomas Beecham, 2nd Baronet CH was an English conductor and impresario best known for his association with the London Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic orchestras. He was also closely associated with the Liverpool Philharmonic and Hallé orchestras...
, among many others. He made regular appearances in San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, New Orleans, etc., also appearing in Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, and Buenos Aires.
The war over, he returned to Paris in 1947, where he successfully sang his first major Wagnerian role, Lohengrin
Lohengrin (opera)
Lohengrin is a romantic opera in three acts composed and written by Richard Wagner, first performed in 1850. The story of the eponymous character is taken from medieval German romance, notably the Parzival of Wolfram von Eschenbach and its sequel, Lohengrin, written by a different author, itself...
, earning him the nickname "Monsieur Lohengrin". He later sang the role of Walther in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg is an opera in three acts, written and composed by Richard Wagner. It is among the longest operas still commonly performed today, usually taking around four and a half hours. It was first performed at the Königliches Hof- und National-Theater in Munich, on June 21,...
with equal success. He also created the role of Fabrice Del Dongo in La Chartreuse de Parme by Henri Sauguet
Henri Sauguet
Henri Sauguet , was a French composer. Born in Bordeaux as Henri-Pierre Poupard, he adopted his mother's maiden name as his pseudonym. His output includes operas, ballets, four symphonies , concertos, chamber and choral music and numerous songs, as well as film music...
.
Subsequently, Jobin divided his time largely between Europe and America, maintaining his high standard in his accustomed roles while adding new ones, until his retirement from the stage in 1958.
He began teaching at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal, and later at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec
Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec
The Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec is a music conservatory located in Quebec City, Quebec. Founded by the Quebec government in 1944, it became the second North American music institution of higher learning to be entirely state-subsidized...
where he notably served as director from 1961-1970. He trained many young Canadian singers, notably Colette Boky
Colette Boky
Colette Boky is a French-Canadian operatic soprano, particularly associated with lyric roles in the French, Italian, and German repertories.- Life and career :...
and Huguette Tourangeau
Huguette Tourangeau
Huguette Tourangeau, is a French-Canadian operatic mezzo-soprano, particularly associated with the French and Italian repertories.- Life and career :...
.
He had been created Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
in 1951, and he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 1967.
His son, André Jobin (born in 1933), was also an opera singer, first as a baritone, and later as a tenor. He enjoyed a successful career in both Europe and North America.
Selected recordings
- Offenbach - Les contes d'Hoffmann - Raoul Jobin, Renée DoriaRenée DoriaRenée Doria is a French opera singer, one of the leading lyric coloratura soprano of her era in France.- Biography :...
, Vina BovyVina BovyVina Bovy born Ghent 22 May 1900, died in the same city 16 May 1983 was a Belgian operatic soprano.She studied in the Conservatoire in Ghent under Willemot, and first appeared on stage aged 17 as Argentine in Les deux billets . Her debut at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie was on October 4, 1920 as...
, Géori BouéGéori BouéGeorgette "Géori" Boué is a French soprano, particularly associated with the French repertory, especially Thais. She was born in Toulouse.- Life and career :...
, Louis MusyLouis MusyLouis Musy was a French operatic baritone and stage director principally active at the Paris Opéra-Comique...
, André Pernet, Charles Soix, Roger BourdinRoger BourdinRoger Bourdin was a French baritone, particularly associated with the French repertory. His career was largely based in France.- Life and career :...
- Choeurs et orchestre de l'Opéra-Comique - André CluytensAndré CluytensAndré Cluytens was a Belgian-born French conductor who was active in the concert hall, opera house and recording studio. His repertoire extended from Viennese classics through French composers to 20th century works...
- 1948 - Bizet - Carmen - Solange MichelSolange MichelSolange Michel was a French classical mezzo-soprano who sang in concerts, recitals, and operas from the 1930s to the 1970s...
, Raoul Jobin, Martha AngeliciMartha AngeliciMartha Angelici , was a French operatic soprano of Corsican origin, particularly associated with the French lyric repertoire....
, Michel DensMichel DensMichel Dens was a French baritone, particularly associated with the French repertory, both opera and operetta....
- Choeurs et orchestre de l'Opéra-Comique - André Cluytens - 1950 - Gounod - Roméo et Juliette - Janine MicheauJanine MicheauJanine Micheau was a French singer, one of the leading lyric sopranos of her era in France.Janine Micheau was born in Toulouse, and studied voice at the Paris Conservatoire...
, Raoul Jobin, Heinz RehfussHeinz RehfussHeinz Julius Rehfuss was a Swiss operatic bass-baritone, who later became an American citizen. He was particularly associated with the title roles in Don Giovanni and Boris Godunov, and Golaud in Pelléas et Mélisande....
- Choeurs et orchestre de l'Opéra de Paris - Alberto EredeAlberto EredeAlberto Erede was an Italian conductor, particularly associated with operatic work.Born in Genoa, Erede studied there before studying in Milan, then with Felix Weingartner at Basle, and after this with Fritz Busch at Dresden. He made his debut in Turin in 1935, conducting Der Ring des Nibelungen....
- 1953
External links
- Raoul Jobin The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...