Country

:

Canada

Birth

:

July 25, 1930 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Death

:

June 16, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Maureen Forrester was a Canadian contralto who was born on July 25, 1930, in Montreal, Quebec. She was the youngest of four children and grew up in a musical family. Her father was a violinist and her mother was a pianist, and they encouraged their children to pursue music. Forrester began singing in church choirs at a young age and showed a natural talent for singing. Forrester's formal music education began at the age of 16 when she enrolled in the Montreal Conservatory of Music. She studied voice with Bernard Diamant and piano with Lubka Kolessa. After completing her studies at the conservatory, Forrester continued her vocal training with the renowned teacher, Nicholas Goldschmidt, in London, England. Forrester made her professional debut in 1953 with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, singing the alto solo in Handel's Messiah. She quickly gained a reputation as a talented contralto and began performing with orchestras and opera companies throughout Canada and the United States. One of Forrester's most notable performances was in 1957 when she sang the role of Erda in Wagner's Das Rheingold with the San Francisco Opera. This performance was a turning point in her career and led to many more opportunities to perform with major opera companies around the world. Forrester was known for her powerful and expressive voice, which was particularly well-suited to the works of Mahler and Wagner. She was also a champion of Canadian composers and frequently performed their works in her concerts. In addition to her performances, Forrester was also a dedicated teacher and mentor to young singers. She taught at the University of Toronto and the Banff Centre for the Arts and was known for her generosity and kindness to her students. Forrester received many awards and honors throughout her career, including the Order of Canada in 1967, the Molson Prize in 1986, and the Governor General's Performing Arts Award in 1992. She was also inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1986. Forrester continued to perform well into her 60s, but in 1998 she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. She retired from performing and spent the rest of her life in her home in Toronto, surrounded by her family and friends. She passed away on June 16, 2010, at the age of 79. Maureen Forrester was a beloved figure in the world of classical music, known for her powerful voice, her dedication to Canadian composers, and her generosity as a teacher and mentor. Her legacy lives on through her recordings and the many singers she inspired and influenced throughout her career.

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