Pauline Donalda, an operatic soprano, teacher and administrator, was born Pauline Lightstone in Montreal on March 5, 1882. Her parents, Jews from Russia and Poland, changed their name from Lichtenstein to Lightstone upon their arrival in Canada. As a child Pauline studied singing on scholarship with Clara Lichtenstein (no relation) at the Royal Victoria College, McGill University. In 1902, after being encouraged by the French tenor Thomas Salignac, Pauline moved to Paris on a grant from Donald A. Smith, Lord Strathcona, where she studied voice with Edmond Duvernoy, stage techniques with Paul Lhérie, speech with Pierre Berton, and Italian with Babette Rosen. In honour of her benefactor, Donald A. Smith, Pauline adopted the stage name Donalda.

On December 30, 1904, Donalda made her debut on stage in Nice, France, singing the role of the title character in Massenet’s Manon. She performed several roles in Nice, and went on to perform in London, Brussels, Canada, New York, and Paris, from 1904-1914. When World War I broke out Donalda was in Canada prior to an intended departure for a concert tour of Australia. The tour subsequently cancelled, Donalda decided to stay in Canada, pursuing a career in concerts and the music-hall, and giving benefit appearances for charity and the war effort.

In 1922 Donalda opened a studio in Paris and began to devote herself to teaching. A member of the L'Union Professionnelle des Maîtres du Chant Français, she taught hundreds of pupils before returning to Montreal in 1937, where she opened a studio and continued to teach. A number of Donalda’s pupils would go on to have international careers, notably Clarice Carson, Fernande Chiocchio, Mary Henderson, Eileen Law, Germain Lefebvre and Robert Savoie. She founded the Opera Guild of Montreal in 1941, serving as president and artistic director until 1969, presenting 29 operas over the course of 28 seasons. In 1954 she was granted an honorary Doctorate of Music from McGill University, and in 1967 she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Pauline Donalda died on October 22, 1970.

Pauline Donalda gave this photograph collection to Irving Guttman, a renowned Canadian opera director. The collection remained in the custody of Guttman and his partner Robert Dales until they donated the records to Rare Books and Special Collections. Prior to their donation the photographs were framed and displayed on a wall in the donors' home.  The collection consists of 53 photographs of well-known 20th century opera singers, composers, musicians, and directors, as well as a performance program and a print of a portrait painting, given to and collected by Pauline Donalda as mementos of her career. The majority of the photographs are signed and dedicated to Pauline Donalda by their subjects, often with personal comments.

These images are provided for reference and research use only. If you wish to publish or otherwise use these images, or if you have a concern about any of the images, please contact Rare Books and Special Collections at rare.books@ubc.ca.