Raoul Jobin

Jobin, Raoul

Raoul Jobin, teacher, tenor, administrator, civil servant (b Joseph Roméo Jobin at Québec City 8 Apr 1906; d there 13 Jan 1974). He was the greatest francophone tenor of his age. His studies, begun at Université Laval, were continued in Paris. Throughout a long and fruitful career, he was frequently asked to interpret strong characters such as Samson, Don José and Lohengrin. He was first tenor at the Opéra-Comique de Paris during the 1930s before joining the Metropolitan Opera in New York (1940-50).

He taught at the music conservatories in Montréal and Québec (where he was also director [1961-70]). Cultural consultant with Québec's general delegation in Paris (1970-73), he was made a knight of the Légion d'honneur in France (1951) and a Companion of the Order of Canada (1967).