Harold Meek

Meek, Harold

Harold Meek (after ca 1912 Edouard Albion). Baritone, impresario, b Port Stanley, near London, Ont, 24 Mar 1887, d there 27 May 1972. He studied at 18 with Cyril Dwight-Edwards in London, Ont, with Frank King Clark and Oscar Seagle in Paris, and with Vincenzo Lombardi in Florence. Known for most of his career as Edouard Albion, he toured the USA and Canada with Luisa Tetrazzini in 1912 and was a member 1913-14 of the National Opera Company of Canada, making his debut in Montreal as the Herald in Lohengrin. A concert tour of Canada followed in 1916. On failing to interest Ottawa authorities in a new opera house for the city he moved to Washington, DC, and there founded, directed, and performed with the National Opera. In that company's 18 years (1918-36) Meek brought to Washington many outstanding singers of the day, including the Canadians Jeanne Gordon, Edward Johnson, and Bertha Crawford. After appearing as Nilakantha in Lakmé in one of the company's last productions, Albion toured the USA and Canada. In later years he taught voice in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, and, after retirement, in Port Stanley.