Eugène Oudin

Eugène Esperance Oudin (24 February 1858 – 4 November 1894) was an American baritone, composer and translator of the Victorian era.

Oudin was one of six brothers born in New York City to French parents, Lucien and Sophie Agnus Oudin. He sang as a boy soprano in the choir of Dr. Tyng's church in New York City and studied music under Moderati. Oudin showed talent and was eventually entrusted with the baritone solos at St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church. He studied Law at Yale University and was admitted to the Bar in 1879, joining the offices of the legal firm Evart, Southmayd and Choate.

In 1881 he set up in legal practice for himself and continued this work for three years, until he accepted an offer to join the American Opera Company, singing for them several times in the western United States.

Travelling to Europe in May 1886, Oudin met fellow New Yorker Lady Randolph Churchill in London, who set him up as a salon singer, during which period he appeared before British , including The Prince of Wales.

Oudin made his operatic stage debut in New York as Montosol in Josephine Sold by Her Sisters at Wallack's Theatre in August 1886 under the direction of John A. McCaull who brought Oudin over from Great Britain to appear with his McCaull Comic Opera Company. During this production he met his future wife, the soprano Louise Parker, who was his leading lady in the operetta.

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