Eugène Oudin
Eugène Espérance Oudin (24 February 1858 – 4 November 1894) was an American baritone, composer and translator of the Victorian era.
Life and career
Early years
Oudin was one of six brothers born in New York City to French parents, Lucien and Sophie Agnus Oudin. He sang as a boy soprano in the choir of Dr. Tyng's church in New York City and studied music under Moderati. Oudin showed talent and was eventually entrusted with the baritone solos at St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church. He studied Law at Yale University and was admitted to the Bar in 1879, joining the offices of his stepfather's legal firm Evart, Southmayd and Choate.
In 1881 he set up in legal practice for himself and continued this work for three years, until he accepted an offer to join the American Opera Company, singing for them several times in the western United States.
Travelling to
Opera and concert years
Oudin made his operatic stage debut in New York as Montosol in Josephine Sold by Her Sisters at Wallack's Theatre in August 1886 under the direction of John A. McCaull who brought Oudin over from Great Britain to appear with his McCaull Comic Opera Company.[2] During this production he met his future wife, the soprano Louise Parker, who was his leading lady in the operetta.
In 1887, he starred as Count Erminio in
Later in 1889, Oudin was again singing in concerts in London, and in 1891 he sang the part of the Templar Brian de Bois Guilbert in
Returning to England in January 1894, Oudin took part in concert performances of
Translator and songwriter
During the last few years of his life, Oudin also translated the lyrics of
References
- ^ New York Times obituary, November 5, 1894
- ^ 1886 New York Times article about foreign singers in Josephine Sold by her Sisters
- ^ New York Times review of 1887 New York production
- ^ Operetta: A Theatrical History, by Traubner, Richard, p. 110
- ^ Cast information for Dorothy Adams, William Davenport. A Dictionary of the Drama (1904) Chatto & Windus, p. 416
- ^ The Times, Thursday, June 19, 1890, Court Circular, p.9
- ^ Wood, Henry, My Life of Music, Victor Gollancz Ltd., London (1938)
- ^ Royal Opera House Programme, Eugene Onegin, Wednesday 26 March 2008, p. 47
- ^ The Life And Letters Of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky, by Modeste Tchaikovsky
- ^ Summary of the concert programme
- ^ Ibbs and Tillett: The Rise and Fall of a Musical Empire, by Christopher Fifield
- ^ List of songs, including some written and translated by Oudin
- ^ Death notice
- ^ The Times, Friday, November 9, 1894, Court Circular, p.6