Claude Létourneau

Létourneau, Claude
Claude Létourneau (baritone). Baritone, choirmaster, educator, b Montreal 26 May 1923; premier prix singing (CMM) 1954. He earned advanced certificates in teaching (École normale Jacques-Cartier 1944) and in Gregorian chant (Laval University 1948) and studied voice with Pauline Donalda and Victor Brault and at the CMM with Martial Singher. He was on staff 1946-69 at the École normale Jacques-Cartier, first as teacher of music education and later as director of students. He then became, in turn, co-ordinator of the arts division and director of audio-visual production for the Quebec Ministry of Education. He was choirmaster 1953-76 at Notre-Dame Church, Montreal, and director 1980-3 of Les Disciples de Massenet. In 1954 he began his career as a singer, performing on radio and TV and with the Opera Guild, the MSO, the Montreal Festivals, the SMCQ, the Opéra du Québec, the Opéra de Montréal, and other organizations. As a member of the Montreal Vocal Trio and of the Petit Ensemble vocal, he has participated in many CBC broadcasts. He founded and directed 1984-8 the Ensemble vocal Claude Létourneau. He sings the role of Monsieur Dolmont in the recording of Colas et Colinette and that of Alcindoro in La Bohème in the recording of the 1980 Festival Ottawa production (Historical Recordings Enterprises 2-HRE-428-2S); with the organist Hélène Panneton he has recorded French and Canadian music on the LP En Prière (1985, Unimusica HP-1002). He also performed on the album Noël, Noël, Noël (RCA Victor Gala CGPS-109).

Author Josèphe Colle

Bibliography

Angrignon Sirois, Maryse. 'Claude Létourneau: une vie au service de la musique,' Aria, vol 9, Winter 1986