French Canadian Opera Singer. A baritone, he studied singing with Céline Marier and harmony and composition with Oscar O'Brien. He made his professional opera debut in January 1926 as 'Ourrias' in Charles Gounod's "Mireille" at the Orpheum in Vancouver, British Columbia. That same year, he awarded the Prix d'Europe which provided him with the opportunity to pursue studies in Paris, France with Émile Marcellin at the Opéra-Comique. Three years later, he joined the roster of principal artists at the Opera of Algiers and performed several leading roles, including 'Escamillo' in "Carmen", 'Figaro' in "The Barber of Seville", 'Giorgio Germont' in "La traviata", 'Lescaut' in "Manon", and 'Valentin' in "Faust". In 1930 he returned to Canada and performed with the Bytown Troubadours at the third annual CPR Festivals in Quebec City. Two years later, he founded the Trio lyrique (TL) and the following year the group was engaged by CRBC for its network series "One Hour with You", on which the group performed for 87 weeks. His group continued to perform actively in public concerts and on CBC Radio 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 reunited briefly in 1971 for CBC broadcasts honoring Daunais and his work. He died at the age of 81. In 1984 the album "Le Trio lyrique chante Lionel Daunais" was released posthumously, which containing music from the ensemble's many radio broadcasts.
French Canadian Opera Singer. A baritone, he studied singing with Céline Marier and harmony and composition with Oscar O'Brien. He made his professional opera debut in January 1926 as 'Ourrias' in Charles Gounod's "Mireille" at the Orpheum in Vancouver, British Columbia. That same year, he awarded the Prix d'Europe which provided him with the opportunity to pursue studies in Paris, France with Émile Marcellin at the Opéra-Comique. Three years later, he joined the roster of principal artists at the Opera of Algiers and performed several leading roles, including 'Escamillo' in "Carmen", 'Figaro' in "The Barber of Seville", 'Giorgio Germont' in "La traviata", 'Lescaut' in "Manon", and 'Valentin' in "Faust". In 1930 he returned to Canada and performed with the Bytown Troubadours at the third annual CPR Festivals in Quebec City. Two years later, he founded the Trio lyrique (TL) and the following year the group was engaged by CRBC for its network series "One Hour with You", on which the group performed for 87 weeks. His group continued to perform actively in public concerts and on CBC Radio 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 reunited briefly in 1971 for CBC broadcasts honoring Daunais and his work. He died at the age of 81. In 1984 the album "Le Trio lyrique chante Lionel Daunais" was released posthumously, which containing music from the ensemble's many radio broadcasts.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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