karina GAUVIN

WE HAVE A HABIT OF taking things for granted: family, friends, our general health, the beauties of nature. To that list, you can add one of this year’s Rubies honourees, soprano Karina Gauvin. It seems barely conceivable her truly distinguished international career is already over 25 years long and continues to be built on intelligence, innate musicality, strikingly efficient vocal technique, rare musical refinement and a sense of style.

Born just outside Montréal, Gauvin grew up in Toronto before returning to her hometown, initially to study Art History but then transferring to the Conservatoire de musique de Montreal where she worked with Marie Daveluy and emerged with a Premier Prix. Both teacher and student were wary of pushing Gauvin beyond her means and so it was felt that opera school was not a viable alternative. Call it what you will—providence, destiny, karma—but it came a-calling