Noël Ferdinand Lionel Daunais, (December 31, 1901 – July 18, 1982) was a

French Canadian French Canadians (referred to as Canadiens mainly before the twentieth century; french: Canadiens français, ; feminine form: , ), or Franco-Canadians (french: Franco-Canadiens), refers to either an ethnic group who trace their ancestry to Fren ...

baritone A baritone is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the bass and the tenor voice-types. The term originates from the Greek (), meaning "heavy sounding". Composers typically write music for this voice in the r ...

and

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

Life

Born in

Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...

Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...

, Daunais studied singing with Céline Marier and harmony and composition with

Oscar O'Brien Oscar O'Brien (7 September 1892 – 20 September 1958) was a Canadian folklorist, composer, pianist, organist, music educator, and Roman Catholic priest. A large portion of his compositions were based in folklore and he also arranged and harm ...

. In 1923 he won first prize at the

Montreal Musical Festival Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple-pe ...

. He made his professional

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...

debut in January 1926 as Ourrias in

Charles Gounod Charles-François Gounod (; ; 17 June 181818 October 1893), usually known as Charles Gounod, was a French composer. He wrote twelve operas, of which the most popular has always been ''Faust (opera), Faust'' (1859); his ''Roméo et Juliette'' (18 ...

's ''

Mireille Mireille () is a French given name, derived from the Provençal Occitan name ''Mirèio'' (or ''Mirèlha'' in the classical norm of Occitan, ). It could be related to the Occitan verb ''mirar'' "to look, to admire" or to the given names ''Miriam'' ...

'' at the Orpheum in Vancouver. The following March he gave his first recital at the

Ritz-Carlton Hotel The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC is an American multinational company that operates the luxury hotel chain known as The Ritz-Carlton. The company has 108 luxury hotels and resorts in 30 countries and territories with 29,158 rooms, in addi ...

.Lionel Daunais
at

The Canadian Encyclopedia ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'' (TCE; french: L'Encyclopédie canadienne) is the national encyclopedia of Canada, published online by the Toronto-based historical organization Historica Canada, with the support of Canadian Heritage. Available fo ...

Daunais was also awarded the

Prix d'Europe The Prix d'Europe is a Canadian study grant that is funded by the Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec of the Government of Quebec. Established in 1911, the award has been distributed annually to a single individual through competition wi ...

in 1926 which provided him with the opportunity to pursue studies in Paris with Émile Marcellin at the

Opéra-Comique The Opéra-Comique is a Paris 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 ...

. In 1929 he joined the roster of principal artists at the Opera of Algiers. With that company he sang several leading roles, including Escamillo in ''

Carmen ''Carmen'' () is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the Carmen (novella), novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first perfo ...

'', Figaro in ''

The Barber of Seville ''The Barber of Seville, or The Useless Precaution'' ( it, Il barbiere di Siviglia, ossia L'inutile precauzione ) is an ''opera buffa'' in two acts composed by Gioachino Rossini with an Italian libretto by Cesare Sterbini. The libretto was base ...

'', Giorgio Germont in ''

La traviata ''La traviata'' (; ''The Fallen Woman'') is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It is based on ''La Dame aux camélias'' (1852), a play by Alexandre Dumas ''fils'' adapted from his own 18 ...

'', Lescaut in ''

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. It was first ...

'', and Valentin in ''

Faust Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust ( 1480–1540). The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a pact with the Devil at a crossroads ...

''. Upon his return to Canada in 1930, Daunais performed with the Bytown Troubadours at the third annual

CPR Festivals The Canadian Pacific Railway Festivals, usually simplified to CPR Festivals, were a series of music and folk arts festivals sponsored by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) between 1927 and 1931. The festivals were organized by the writer and publici ...

in Quebec City. At the festival he also portrayed

Samuel de Champlain Samuel de Champlain (; Fichier OrigineFor a detailed analysis of his baptismal record, see RitchThe baptism act does not contain information about the age of Samuel, neither his birth date nor his place of birth. – 25 December 1635) was a Fre ...

Healey Willan James Healey Willan (12 October 1880 – 16 February 1968) was an Anglo-Canadian organist and composer. He composed more than 800 works including operas, symphonies, chamber music, a concerto, and pieces for band, orchestra, organ, and ...

's ''The Order of Good Cheer''. Later that year he made his debut with the Société canadienne d'opérette in Montreal as Clément Marot in

André Messager André Charles Prosper Messager (; 30 December 1853 – 24 February 1929) was a French composer, organist, pianist and conductor. His compositions include eight ballets and thirty opéra comique, opéras comiques, opérettes and other stage wo ...

's ''

La Basoche ''La Basoche'' is an opéra comique in three acts, with music by André Messager and words by Albert Carré. The opera is set in Paris in 1514 and depicts the complications that arise when the elected "king" of the student guild, the Basoche, is ...

''. He performed frequently with that company through 1935. In 1932 Daunais founded the Trio lyrique (TL) whose original members also included

contralto A contralto () is a type of classical female singing voice whose vocal range is the lowest female voice type. The contralto's vocal range is fairly rare; similar to the mezzo-soprano, and almost identical to that of a countertenor, typically b ...

Anna Malenfant Anna Malenfant (October 16, 1902 – June 15, 1988) was a Canadian singer, educator and composer. Early years and career She was born in Shediac, New Brunswick. Malenfant began her career with a performance of ''The Mikado''in Moncton. Sh ...

and

tenor A tenor is a type of classical music, classical male singing human voice, voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. The tenor's vocal range extends up to C5. The lo ...

Ludovic Huot Ludovic is a given name and has also been a surname. People with the given name A * Ludovic Albós Cavaliere (born 1979), Andorran ski mountaineer * Ludovic Ambruș (born 1946), Romanian wrestler who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics * Ludov ...

Jules Jacob Jules is the French form of the Latin "Julius" (e.g. Jules César, the French name for Julius Caesar). It is the given name of: People with the name *Jules Aarons (1921–2008), American space physicist and photographer *Jules Abadie (1876–195 ...

replaced Huot in the early 1940s. Daunais recruited pianist and composer

Allan McIver Joseph Allan McIver (17 January 1904 – 15 June 1969) was a Canadian composer, arranger, pianist, and conductor. As a pianist he performed with orchestras in the Quebec region in his early career and was the longtime accompanist and arrang ...

to serve as the group's accompanist and arranger. All of the arrangements performed during the TL's performance history were by McIver, including arrangements of many of Daunais's compositions. In 1933 the TL was engaged by CRBC for its network series ''One Hour with You'', on which the group performed for 87 weeks. In the 1934 the TL released the

LP album The LP (from "long playing" or "long play") is an analog sound storage medium, a phonograph record format characterized by: a speed of rpm; a 12- or 10-inch (30- or 25-cm) diameter; use of the "microgroove" groove specification; and a ...

''Chansons de Lionel Daunais'' for

Radio Canada International Radio Canada International (RCI) is the international broadcasting service of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Prior to 1970, RCI was known as the CBC International Service. The broadcasting service was also previously referred to as ...

. In 1936 the group performed for the CBS radio network in New York where McIver was also engaged as a staff arranger. The TL continued to perform actively in public concerts and on

CBC Radio CBC Radio is the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which (regardless of language) are outlined below ...

programs like ''The Play of the Week'', ''Light Up and Listen''. and ''Serenade for Strings'' up until the mid-1960s when it disbanded. The group re-united briefly in the autumn of 1971 for CBC broadcasts honoring Daunais and his work. In 1984 the album ''Le Trio lyrique chante Lionel Daunais'' was released; containing music from the ensemble's many radio broadcasts.

Honours

* In 1965, he was awarded the

Bene merenti de patria Bene merenti de patria is a silver medal created in 1923. It is awarded by the Quebec patriotic Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society to a "compatriot having rendered exceptional services to the homeland". Laureates *1924: Marie Lacoste Gérin-Lajoie *1924 ...

. * In 1977, he was awarded the

Calixa-Lavallée Award The Calixa-Lavallée Award (french: Prix Calixa-Lavallée) is a music award created in 1959. It is granted by the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society of Montreal (SSJBM) to a Quebecer having distinguished themself in the field of music.http://degree.youthl ...

. * In 1978, he was made an Officer of the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the ...

. * In 1982, he was awarded the

Prix Denise-Pelletier The Prix Denise-Pelletier is an award by the Government of Quebec that is part of the Prix du Québec, given to individuals for an outstanding career in the performing arts. It is awarded to a creator, performer, stage-craftsman or person who ha ...

Discography (as a composer)

12 Chansons''
The Canadian Encyclopedia
* Lionel Daunais, baritone * John Newmark, piano * Radio-Canada International, RCI 107 * 1954 Transcription: Lionel Daunais''
Discogs.com
* Bruno Laplante, baritone * Louis-Philippe Pelletier, piano * Radio-Canada International, RCI 294 * 1971 D’amour et de fantaisie''
Discogs.com
* Lionel Daunais, baritone * John Newmark, piano * Sélect, CC-15.087 * 1974 Chansons de mon pays''
Discogs.com
* Ensemble Vocal Katimavik * André Beaumier, choir conductor * Société Nouvelle d’Enregistrement, SNE 502 * 1979 (1977?) Anna Malenfant chante Lionel Daunais''
Discogs.com
* Anna Malenfant, contralto * Janine Lachance, piano * Société Nouvelle d’Enregistrement, SNE 511 * 1984 Lionel Daunais chante Lionel Daunais''
Discogs.com
* Lionel Daunais, baritone * Janine Lachance and John Newmark, piano * Société Nouvelle d’Enregistrement, SNE 512 * 1984 Le Trio Lyrique chante Lionel Daunais''
Discogs.com
* Trio Lyrique * Allan McIver, piano * Société Nouvelle d’Enregistrement, SNE 513 * 1984 Le Bestiaire''
Discogs.com
* Christine Lemelin, mezzo-soprano * Réjean Coallier, piano * Société Nouvelle d’Enregistrement, SNE 565 * 1990 Lionel Daunais : L’hommage de ses interprètes''
Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec
* Lionel Daunais, baritone * Anna Malenfant, contralto * Trio Lyrique * Janine Lachance and John Newmark, piano * Box set, 5 CDs * Fonovox, VOX-7839-2 * 1997 Airs Chantés – Fantaisie dans tous les tons''
Discogs.com
* Hélène Guilmette, soprano * Delphine Bardin, piano * Ambroisie, AMB 9971 * 2004 Le petit chien de laine''
Allmusic.com
* Various performers * Illustrated Book and CD * La Montagne Secrète * 2005 Lionel Daunais : Fantaisie dans tous les tons''
Allmusic.com
* Chantal Lavigne, soprano * Anne-Lise Longuemare, piano * Atma Classique, ACD2 1016 * 2009 Hommage à Lionel Daunais''
Allmusic.com
* Quatuor Kevoixsi * CD Baby 5637680983 * 2010 75 ans 75 chansons – Radio-Canada 1936-2011''
Allmusic.com
* Box set, 5 CDs * Disques SRC * 2011 La tourtière''
CMCCanada.org
* Jacqueline Woodley, soprano * Annina Haug, mezzo-soprano * Pierre Rancourt, baritone * Marc Bourdeau, piano & arrangement * CentreTracks, CD-CMCCT 11822 * 2022 (4 February) Le voyage de noces''
CMCCanada.org
* Pierre Rancourt, baritone * Marc Bourdeau, piano & arrangement * CentreTracks, CD-CMCCT 11922 * 2022 (4 March) Chanson des amours perdues''
CMCCanada.org
* Jacqueline Woodley, soprano * Marc Bourdeau, piano * CentreTracks, CD-CMCCT 12022 * 2022 (18 March) LIONEL DAUNAIS mélodies . songs''
CMCCanada.org
* Jacqueline Woodley, soprano * Annina Haug, mezzo-soprano * Pierre Rancourt, baritone * Michel Bellavance, flute * Marc Bourdeau, piano & arrangement * CentreDiscs, CD-CMCCD 30122 * 2022 (1 April)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Daunais, Lionel 1901 births 1982 deaths Canadian male composers Canadian operatic baritones Officers of the Order of Canada French Quebecers Prix Denise-Pelletier winners Singers from Montreal 20th-century Canadian male opera singers 20th-century Canadian composers

Life

Honours

Discography (as a composer)

See also

References