ALAIN NONAT is born in France in 1942. He has two nationalities Canadian and French.

General and Artistic Director of the Théâtre Lyrichorégra 20, Alain Nonat, a Helden tenor and recipient of a First Prize of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, began his vocal studies with Maria Branèze at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris where he won a First Prize. He continued his vocal studies in Montreal, Canada, at the Operatic Workshop of the McGill University Faculty of Music with Luciano Della Pergola, Barry Wisenfield and Antonio Narducci. He also worked with Bernard Diamant and pianist John Newmark. He studied under the masters Jacques Jansen and Jean-Christophe Benoit in France; Boris Goldowsky in the United States; and in Germany under tenor Ernst Haefliger who became his mentor. He participated in several national and international competitions, including the Music Competition of Canada and the International Competition of La Mélodie Française de Paris where he win prizes

He sang for the most part in France, the United States and Canada, and participated in the first presentation of several contemporary lyrical works. He possesses a large repertoire of French melodies, lieder and oratorios, and has staged several lyrical productions.

On his return to Canada, in 1974, he founded the Théâtre Lyricoregra 20, an organization which promotes opera for all ages and encourages young singers. He was also a dance critic for three years.

In 1980 and 1981, he is general and artistic director of the Opera and Dance Pavillon at Man and His World in Montreal, which attracted more than 150,000 visitors each summer with its concerts and exhibits.

In 1982, he concentrated his efforts on teaching and on managing the Théâtre Lyricoregra 20. He went on to create the Journées de la musique française inviting in Montreal French wellknown musicians and the Rencontres musicales tchèques et slovaques (two events combining concerts and competitions), and Si l’Opéra m’était conté, an introduction to opera for all ages.

In 1994, he organized in Canada a new programme, Les Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques, whose aim is to facilitate the introduction of young Canadian singers to a career in Europe. He create the same programme in China in 2004 in collaboration with the China Musician's Association.

Since 1990, he has given Master Classes in Interpretation, specializing in the interpretation of French music, opera and melody, and the preparation for international auditions and competitions. In this function, he has been invited to Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia and Korea .

Since 1991, he has been invited every year to be a jury member for International Singing Competitions in Belgium, China, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Korea, Portugal ,Spain, Slovakia and Estonia He has instituted several exchange programmes between Canada ,Europe adn China for young musicians.

Since 2005 he create with the Brasov Opera in Romania an international opera programme for young singers in Autumn of each year, Every year he also organized the Czech and Slovak Musical Rencontres in Montreal and has already invited some well known musicals like Radoslav Kvapil. Jarmil Burghauser, lena Vesela,Adolf Sykora, Jan Panenka, Ivan Zenaty, Bedrich Havlik Marian Lapsanky, Ida Kirilova, Julius Klein and others.

In 2007 he creates in Montreal the Rencontres Lyriques internationales de Montréal presenting young canadian and foreign singers from Europe and from Asia in concerts.

In 1991, he was decorated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, in recognition of his involvement in cultural exchange between his country and Canada.

In 1993 he is a delegate for Canada at the first Olympic Arts charter in Paris Unesco In 1998, he received from the Czech Republic the Antonin Dvorak medal for his work in promoting Czech music in Canada. In 2002, he received the civil medal, Linden of Friendship, from the International Club of Slovakia for his cooperation in promoting cultural exchanges between Canada and Slovakia. He received also in Montreal City Hall from the Slovak President in official visit a decoration for his work to promote cultural exchange between Canada and Slovakia.

QUELQUES CRITIQUES

“Talented Tenor.... is leaving behind a trail of praises whenever he sings...

Ottawa Journal (Ottawa-Canada)

“possède l’étoffe d’un authentique ténor dramatique avec des graves impressionnants....Alain Nonat est un artiste dont il sera intéressant de suivre l’évolution car il ne peut manquer de faire une carrière qui sortira de l’ordinaire”

La Voix du Nord (St Quentin-France)

“Alain Nonat as Rinuccio had considerable range..”

Ottawa Journal (Ottawa -Canada)

“Alain Nonat tour à tour Don José et Des Grieux sait chanter et il sait jouer particulièrement les nobles si l’on en juge par son Des Grieux...”

La Presse ( Montréal-Canada)

“La voix est large , vaillante, avec un timbre séduisant. Alain Nonat a de la classe, du style et est appelé à faire une carrière dans le théâtre d’opéra..

..nous aurons certainement l’occasion d’en reparler”

Guide Musical -Opéra (Paris-France)

“of the singing roles I should mention the tenor Alain Nonat

for the way he handled the Male Chorus”....

Montreal Star (Montréal-Canada)

“offrit une interprétation exemplaire ,vivante, la voix parvenant à traduire avec beaucoup d’esprit cette musique si révélatrice de la personnalité de Britten”

Guide Musical-Opéra (Paris- France)

“Alain Nonat fut parfait scéniquement, jouant avec intelligence le rôle du Matelot, mimant avec finesse et une rare compréhension du texte et de la musique les divers sentiments du héros..”

Guide Musical-Opéra (Paris-France)