Ulysse Paquin

Paquin, Ulysse

Ulysse Paquin. Bass, b Alpena, Mich, 20 Jul 1885, d Montreal 16 Nov 1972. He took his classical studies with the Jesuits, first in Chicago and then in Montreal. He was a bank manager, but left the world of finance in 1913 to embark on a singing career. He studied with Albert Clerk-Jeannotte and Salvator Issaurel and was a chorister and soloist at the Gesù Church, Montreal, for six years. In 1916 he became choirmaster of St-Sacrement Church in the Montreal suburb of Lachine. In 1920 he settled in New York, where he was soloist at St Patrick's Cathedral and at St Vincent-Ferrier Church, and where he took lessons with Giovanni Martinelli, occasionally singing with him in concert. He toured in the USA and in Quebec. In 1923 he left New York for Paris, where he studied with Rodolphe Plamondon, singing with him in Paris and in the provinces. Both returned to Canada in September 1924 to undertake, as a duo, a 50-recital tour of Quebec. In the spring of 1925 the two singers made another joint tour, this time of New England.

Paquin gave numerous recitals as soloist or with Canadian and foreign artists and belonged to such groups as the Montreal Quartet and the Quatuor Arion. He distinguished himself in opera and operetta, playing such roles as Friar Lawrence in Gounod's Roméo et Juliette, Escamillo in Carmen, the drum-major in Thomas's Le Caïd, and Sganarelle in Poise's L'Amour Médecin. Some Canadian works have been dedicated to Paquin: 'Mensonges' and 'Recueillement' by Frédéric Pelletier, and 'Hiver' (from Saisons canadiennes) by Rodolphe Mathieu.

Paquin married Luce Chamberland (b Montreal 8 Oct 1884, d there 22 Jul 1932), pianist, accompanist, and chamber player, sister of the violinist Albert Chamberland. After her death Paquin sharply curtailed his professional activities.