Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia
Lavallée, Calixa
Composer born in Verchères, Quebec, 1842, died in Boston, Massachusetts, 1891.
Calixa Lavallée is best known for writing the music to the Canadian national anthem, O Canada but he was also the composer of theatrical music and operettas (notably The Widow, premiered in New Orleans).
He studied with his father and in Montreal as a musician before touring the United States, South America and the West Indies.
He opened a studio in Montreal and was the president of the Académie de Musique de Québec.
A prize, in his name, is awarded each year by the Quebec nationalist association, Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste (for whom, ironically, he had written O Canada) to those who have distinguished themselves in the field of music.
Profile by Gaetan Charlebois
Last updated 2021-03-08
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The Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia web site was originally conceived and developed in 1996 by Gaetan Charlebois—theatre critic, playwright, and actor.
