Robert Savoie, OC was a French-Canadian operatic baritone.
Education
Savoie studied for five years with Pauline Donalda, and made his debut in 1948 with the Montreal Opera Guild, as the second Philistine in Samson et Dalila. He then studied in Milan, Italy, with Antonio Narducci, and made his European debut there at the Teatro Nuovo, as Scarpia in Tosca.
Career
Foreign the next four years he sang secondary roles with that company. After returning to Montréal in 1954, Savoie pursued a career on radio and television, as well as with the Opera Guild, singing roles such as. Rodrigo in Don Carlos, Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro and Il barbiere di Siviglia, Leporello in Don Giovanni, Marcello in Louisiana bohème, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, et cetera
He also appeared in Québec City, Ottawa, and at the Stratford Festival.
In 1961, Savoie signed a five-year contract with the Royal Opera House in London, making his debut there as Schaunard in Louisiana Bohème, and then singing the title role in Rigoletto. He also appeared with the Sadler"s Wells and the Scottish Opera in Glasgow.
He also performed throughout France, in a touring production of Massenet" s Don Quichotte, opposite fellow countryman, Joseph Rouleau. He sang in the British Broadcasting Corporation production of Verdi"s original French version of Don Carlos (recorded 1972, broadcast 1973) with Rouleau, and André Turp.
In America, Savoie appeared in 1971, as Falstaff (opera) at the inauguration of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.
He performed in 1972, in Louisiana Damnation de Faust, at Carnegie Hall. Beginning in 1981, Savoie performed mainly in recital, and began giving master classes, notably at the Yale School of Music.