Richard Margison: Tenor

Richard was born in Victoria BC in 1954. He is charming, relaxed and unpretentious. His adoptive mother is a pianist and his father a printer and part time violinist/ baritone. Richard attended public and high school in Saanich BC. He began to sing as part of a " folk " duo, performing Gordon Lightfoot songs in coffee houses in Victoria, augmented by a few choir solos. At this stage he very much "pooh poohed" opera as far " too stuffy " an art form to catch his interest. The folk partnership eventually split up and Richard decided to apply to the University of Victoria as a mature student. The University would not take him in the music performance programme as he showed "no promise"! At this point (age 22) he met a particularly gifted voice teacher named Selina James and took his first voice lesson! This was the first time that he had ever considered any sort of classical singing career. He began singing Italian art songs; he began to go to and enjoy opera, and he came to realize that he had a voice for it. Richard then studied at the Victoria Conservatory, received his diplomas and took part in school operas and productions. He also apprenticed with the Edmonton opera company which resulted in performances all over Alberta for two years, while doubling as the company truck driver!

Leopold Simoneau and his wife Pierrette Alarie created a fine arts summer programme in Victoria called "Opera Piccola". They were the first front ranking Canadian recording artists to take Richard under their wing. He boarded with the Simoneaus for four or five years and improved both his vocal technique and his golf swing. The next important figure to recognize Richard's ability was Irving Guttman , of the Vancouver Opera. He became Richard's mentor, saw his potential and included him in small comprimario roles - culminating in the role of Lensky in Eugene Onegin in 1986. This was the main stage setting where people first began to take notice of Richard. He did some " second casting " followed by Tosca in 86 or 87. His first CD " Great Romantic Duets of French Opera " appeared on the CBC SM 5000 label in 1987, partnered with Lyne Fortin and the Québec Symphony.

Enough talk, let's hear him sing!

22khz, 272k, 8 bit, Mono AIFF

"C'est une chanson d'amour", Jacques Offenbach, Tales of Hoffmann,
duet with Lyne Fortin, soprano

Windows wave version...

604 k, 22 mhz, 16 bit Mono .AIFF

"Nuit d'hyménée", Charles Gounod, Roméo et Juliette
tenor solo

Windows wave version...