Maureen Forrester was born and grew up in Montreal, Quebec, one of four children of Thomas Forrester, a Scottish cabinetmaker, and his Irish-born wife, the former May Arnold. She sang in church and radio choirs. At age 13, she dropped out of school to help support the family, working as a secretary at Bell Telephone.[1]
When her brother came home from the war he persuaded her to take singing lessons. She paid for voice lessons with Sally Martin, Frank Rowe, and baritone Bernard Diamant. In the spring of 1951, Forrester appeared on the CBC radio talent competition Opportunity Knocks, singing "Ombra mai fu", and describing herself to the host as a "starving musician" and part-time switchboard operator.[2] She was ultimately named first runner-up, and later competed on the similar shows Singing Stars of Tomorrow, and Nos Futures Étoiles.
She toured extensively in Canada and Europe with Jeunesses Musicales. She made her New York City debut in Town Hall in 1956.[4]Bruno Walter invited her to sing for him; he was looking for the right contralto for a performance and recording of the MahlerSymphony No. 2 "Resurrection". This was the start of a warm relationship with great rapport. Walter had been a protégé of Mahler, and he trained Forrester in interpretation of his works. She performed at Walter's farewell performances with the New York Philharmonic in 1957.[5]
In 1957, she married the Toronto violinist and conductor Eugene Kash. The couple had five children, including actors Linda Kash and Daniel Kash. Forrester converted to Judaism.[6]
She performed regularly in concert and opera. At the New York City Opera, she sang Cornelia in Handel's Giulio Cesare (1966),[7] opposite Norman Treigle and Beverly Sills, which was recorded by RCA in 1967. She sang at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1975 in Das Rheingold (Erda),[8]Siegfried, and Un ballo in maschera.[9] Forrester also provided the voice of the Bianca Castafiore character in the television seriesThe Adventures of Tintin. She was a strong champion of Canadian composers, regularly scheduling their works in her programs, especially when she toured abroad. A notable example is composer Donald Steven, whose work "Pages of Solitary Delights" (winner of the 1987 Juno Award for Classical Composition of the Year) was written for Ms. Forrester. From 1983-88 she served as Chair of the Canada Council.[10]
In 1986, she co-authored her autobiography, Out of Character (ISBN0-7710-3228-5), with journalist Marci McDonald.[9]
Deathedit
Maureen Forrester died on June 16, 2010, aged 79, in Toronto, after a long battle with dementia. She was predeceased by Eugene Kash, her former husband, whom she had divorced in 1974, and who died in 2004. She was survived by her five children.[9][3]
On April 8, 1969, Forrester was chosen to sing the Canadian national anthem at the first Montreal Expos regular-season baseball game, at Shea Stadium in New York City.
In 1979, Forrester received the Loyola Medal from Concordia University.[12]
In 1980, Forrester received the diplôme d'honneur from the Canadian Conference of the Arts
^Obituary for Forrester 2012-01-21 at the Wayback Machine, theglobeandmail.com; accessed June 23, 2015.
^Mazey, Steven. "CBC Radio Honours the Best: Series Presents Performances and Profiles of the Greatest Canadian Musical Performers of the 20th Century. Steven Mazey Reports.: [Final Edition]." The Ottawa Citizen, Jul 04, 2000
^ abcW.M. Macdonnell; Betty Nygaard King; Barbara Norman. "Maureen Forrester". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
^Downes, Edward (13 November 1956). "MISS FORRESTER IN DEBUT RECITAL; Canadian Contralto Displays Superb Voice--Poulenc and Britten Works Included". New York Times. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
^Taubman, Howard (15 February 1957). "Music: Mahler's Second; Symphony Is Directed by Bruno Walter". New York Times. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
^Conversion to Judaism[usurped], jam.canoe.ca, June 17, 2010; accessed June 22, 2015.
^Peyser, Joan (25 September 1966). "She Waited for the Right Moment". New York Times. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
^Henaham, Donal (11 February 1975). "Opera: 'Das Rheingold,' Back at Met, in Near Magical Program". New York Times. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
^ abcBrian Kellow. . Opera News. Archived from the original on December 23, 2010. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
^Profile 2010-03-07 at the Wayback Machine, CanadaCouncil.ca; accessed June 23, 2015.
^"Honorary Degree Citation - Maureen Katherine Stewart Forrester* | Concordia University Archives". archives.concordia.ca. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
^. www.concordia.ca. Archived from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
^Sleeman, Elizabeth (2001). The International Who's Who of Women 2002. Psychology Press. ISBN978-1-85743-122-3.
^Canadian Who's Who 2003, books.google.com.au; accessed June 23, 2015.
^"Maureen Forrester biography". Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
^Canada's Walk of Fame: Maureen Forrester 2006-10-30 at the Wayback Machine, canadaswalkoffame.com; accessed June 23, 2015.
External linksedit
Discography, galarecords.ca
Interview with Maureen Forrester, November 21, 1988
maureen, forrester, maureen, kathleen, stewart, forrester, july, 1930, june, 2010, canadian, operatic, contralto, maureen, kathleen, stewart, forrester, photo, taken, carl, vechtenbornmaureen, kathleen, stewart, forrester, 1930, july, 1930montreal, quebec, can. Maureen Kathleen Stewart Forrester CC OQ July 25 1930 June 16 2010 was a Canadian operatic contralto Maureen ForresterMaureen Kathleen Stewart Forrester photo taken by Carl Van VechtenBornMaureen Kathleen Stewart Forrester 1930 07 25 July 25 1930Montreal Quebec CanadaDiedJune 16 2010 2010 06 16 aged 79 Toronto Ontario CanadaOccupationSingerYears active1953 1983SpouseEugene Kash m 1957 div 1974 wbr Children5 including Linda Kash and Daniel Kash Contents 1 Life and career 2 Death 3 Honours 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksLife and career edit nbsp On the set of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens performance of Adieu Robert Schumann 1979 by R M Schafer and choreographed by Brian MacDonald with left to right Denise Masse Vincent Warren and Annette av PaulMaureen Forrester was born and grew up in Montreal Quebec one of four children of Thomas Forrester a Scottish cabinetmaker and his Irish born wife the former May Arnold She sang in church and radio choirs At age 13 she dropped out of school to help support the family working as a secretary at Bell Telephone 1 When her brother came home from the war he persuaded her to take singing lessons She paid for voice lessons with Sally Martin Frank Rowe and baritone Bernard Diamant In the spring of 1951 Forrester appeared on the CBC radio talent competition Opportunity Knocks singing Ombra mai fu and describing herself to the host as a starving musician and part time switchboard operator 2 She was ultimately named first runner up and later competed on the similar shows Singing Stars of Tomorrow and Nos Futures Etoiles She gave her debut recital at the local YWCA in 1953 She made her concert debut in Beethoven s Ninth Symphony with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra under Otto Klemperer 3 nbsp Maureen Forrester Tel Aviv 1961She toured extensively in Canada and Europe with Jeunesses Musicales She made her New York City debut in Town Hall in 1956 4 Bruno Walter invited her to sing for him he was looking for the right contralto for a performance and recording of the Mahler Symphony No 2 Resurrection This was the start of a warm relationship with great rapport Walter had been a protege of Mahler and he trained Forrester in interpretation of his works She performed at Walter s farewell performances with the New York Philharmonic in 1957 5 In 1957 she married the Toronto violinist and conductor Eugene Kash The couple had five children including actors Linda Kash and Daniel Kash Forrester converted to Judaism 6 She performed regularly in concert and opera At the New York City Opera she sang Cornelia in Handel s Giulio Cesare 1966 7 opposite Norman Treigle and Beverly Sills which was recorded by RCA in 1967 She sang at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1975 in Das Rheingold Erda 8 Siegfried and Un ballo in maschera 9 Forrester also provided the voice of the Bianca Castafiore character in the television series The Adventures of Tintin She was a strong champion of Canadian composers regularly scheduling their works in her programs especially when she toured abroad A notable example is composer Donald Steven whose work Pages of Solitary Delights winner of the 1987 Juno Award for Classical Composition of the Year was written for Ms Forrester From 1983 88 she served as Chair of the Canada Council 10 In 1986 she co authored her autobiography Out of Character ISBN 0 7710 3228 5 with journalist Marci McDonald 9 Death editMaureen Forrester died on June 16 2010 aged 79 in Toronto after a long battle with dementia She was predeceased by Eugene Kash her former husband whom she had divorced in 1974 and who died in 2004 She was survived by her five children 9 3 Honours edit nbsp The star dedicated to Maureen Forrester from 2000 on the Canada s Walk of Fame in Toronto Ontario In 1967 Forrester was made a Companion of the Order of Canada In 1969 Forrester received an honorary doctorate from Sir George Williams University one of Concordia University s founding institutions 11 On April 8 1969 Forrester was chosen to sing the Canadian national anthem at the first Montreal Expos regular season baseball game at Shea Stadium in New York City In 1979 Forrester received the Loyola Medal from Concordia University 12 In 1980 Forrester received the diplome d honneur from the Canadian Conference of the Arts In 1983 Forrester was awarded Yale University s Sanford Medal 13 14 From 1986 90 Maureen Forrester was Chancellor of Wilfrid Laurier University the University s recital hall is named in her honour In 1990 Forrester was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame aka Juno Hall of Fame In 1995 Forrester received a Governor General s Performing Arts Award 15 In 1999 Forrester received the Order of Ontario 3 In 2000 Forrester received a star on Canada s Walk of Fame 16 In 2003 Forrester was made an Officer of the National Order of Quebec In 2004 Forrester became a MasterWorks honouree by the Audio Visual Preservation Trust of Canada See also edit nbsp Music portal nbsp Canada portalMusic of Canada Canadian Music Hall of FameReferences edit Obituary for Forrester Archived 2012 01 21 at the Wayback Machine theglobeandmail com accessed June 23 2015 Mazey Steven CBC Radio Honours the Best Series Presents Performances and Profiles of the Greatest Canadian Musical Performers of the 20th Century Steven Mazey Reports Final Edition The Ottawa Citizen Jul 04 2000 a b c W M Macdonnell Betty Nygaard King Barbara Norman Maureen Forrester The Canadian Encyclopedia Retrieved August 22 2019 Downes Edward 13 November 1956 MISS FORRESTER IN DEBUT RECITAL Canadian Contralto Displays Superb Voice Poulenc and Britten Works Included New York Times Retrieved 20 March 2018 Taubman Howard 15 February 1957 Music Mahler s Second Symphony Is Directed by Bruno Walter New York Times Retrieved 20 March 2018 Conversion to Judaism usurped jam canoe ca June 17 2010 accessed June 22 2015 Peyser Joan 25 September 1966 She Waited for the Right Moment New York Times Retrieved 20 March 2018 Henaham Donal 11 February 1975 Opera Das Rheingold Back at Met in Near Magical Program New York Times Retrieved 20 March 2018 a b c Brian Kellow Beloved contralto Maureen Forrester dies Opera News Archived from the original on December 23 2010 Retrieved June 23 2015 Profile Archived 2010 03 07 at the Wayback Machine CanadaCouncil ca accessed June 23 2015 Honorary Degree Citation Maureen Katherine Stewart Forrester Concordia University Archives archives concordia ca Retrieved 2016 03 30 Maureen Forrester www concordia ca Archived from the original on August 15 2018 Retrieved August 17 2017 Sleeman Elizabeth 2001 The International Who s Who of Women 2002 Psychology Press ISBN 978 1 85743 122 3 Canadian Who s Who 2003 books google com au accessed June 23 2015 Maureen Forrester biography Governor General s Performing Arts Awards Foundation Retrieved February 2 2015 Canada s Walk of Fame Maureen Forrester Archived 2006 10 30 at the Wayback Machine canadaswalkoffame com accessed June 23 2015 External links editAVTrust ca Maureen Forrester video clip Discography galarecords ca Interview with Maureen Forrester November 21 1988 Maureen Forrester at IMDb The Adventures of Tintin on IMDbAcademic officesPreceded byJohn Black Aird Chancellor of Wilfrid Laurier University1986 1990 Succeeded byWillard Z Estey Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maureen Forrester amp oldid 1201928900, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
