Pauline Donalda

Who was Pauline Donalda?

Pauline Donalda, OC was a Canadian operatic soprano.

Born Pauline Lightstone in Montreal, Quebec, she studied music at Royal Victoria College. In 1902 she studied in Paris and made her debut in 1904 in Nice. In 1922, she opened a studio in Paris and became a teacher. In 1937, she opened a studio in Montreal and in 1942 she founded the Opera Guild of Montreal. She served as president and artistic director until 1969.

In 1967, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada "for her contribution to the arts, especially opera, as a singer and founder of the Opera Guild in Montreal."

Pauline Donalda was the first to sing the roles of Concepción in Maurice Ravel's L'heure espagnole and Ah-joe in Franco Leoni's L'Oracolo at Covent Garden.