The 1951 CBC radio talent competition Opportunity Knocks marked the public arrival of Maureen Forrester, who identified herself to the host as a starving musician and switchboard operator. This Montreal native transformed from a teenage secretary at Bell Telephone into an internationally recognized operatic contralto, eventually securing her status as a foundational figure in Canadian musical performance history.
Early Career and Mentorship
Born in 1930 to parents Thomas and May Forrester, she entered the workforce at age thirteen to support her family. After her brother returned from military service, she began formal vocal training with Sally Martin, Frank Rowe, and Bernard Diamant. Her debut recital occurred at a local YWCA in 1953, followed by a concert debut performing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony under conductor Otto Klemperer with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.
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Following extensive tours with Jeunesses Musicales, she made her New York City debut at Town Hall in 1956. This appearance caught the attention of conductor Bruno Walter, who sought a specific contralto voice for his performances and recordings of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2. Their collaboration established a professional rapport that saw Forrester participate in Walter’s final New York Philharmonic performances in 1957.
Operatic Performance and Public Service
Her career spanned decades, including roles at the New York City Opera, where she sang Cornelia in a 1966 production of Handel’s Giulio Cesare. In 1975, she appeared at the Metropolitan Opera in productions of Das Rheingold, Siegfried, and Un ballo in maschera. Beyond the stage, she served as Chair of the Canada Council from 1983 to 1988 and acted as Chancellor of Wilfrid Laurier University from 1986 to 1990.
Personal Life and Final Years
In 1957, she married violinist and conductor Eugene Kash, with whom she had five children, including actors Linda and Daniel Kash. Following her divorce in 1974, she eventually converted to Judaism. In 1986, she collaborated with journalist Marci McDonald to release her autobiography, Out of Character. Forrester spent her final years in Toronto suffering from dementia, passing away on June 16, 2010, at age seventy-nine.
Fast facts
- Born: 1930, Montreal
- Died: 16 June 2010, Toronto
- Vocal Range: Contralto
- Autobiography: Out of Character (1986)
- Chair of the Canada Council: 1983-1988
- Canadian Music Hall of Fame Induction: 1990
- Companion of the Order of Canada: 1967
- Notable Recording: Handel's Giulio Cesare (1967)
Questions readers ask
What major honours did she receive during her career?
She was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada, inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and received the Molson Prize, among other distinctions including honorary doctorates from the University of British Columbia and Laval University.
Did she perform in genres other than opera?
Yes, she was a dedicated concert singer who championed Canadian composers and provided the voice for the character Bianca Castafiore in the animated series The Adventures of Tintin.
Achievements
- Molson Prize — 1972
- Companion of the Order of Canada
- Officer of the National Order of Quebec — 2003
- Canadian Music Hall of Fame — 1990
- Order of Ontario
- Instruments: voice
- Genres: opera
