Georges Dufresne

Georges Dufresne (1894-1973) was a tenor and a director of television and radio programs in Quebec. After classical studies at the Nicolet seminary, he moved to Montreal where he studied music and singing. He continued vocal studies in Paris before enlisting as a soldier during World War I. In 1919, he made his debut at the Théâtre de la Gaîté-lyrique under the name Dufranne and sang in France, as well as in England and later in the United States. During this time, he performed with artists from the Metropolitan Opera, notably singing title roles. He returned to Canada in 1935 and performed in recitals and on the radio for Radio-Canada. He also sang with the Variétés lyriques. In 1942, he joined Radio-Canada as a director of musical and lyrical programs, a position he held until his retirement in 1967.