Lois McDonall
Lois Jeanette McDonall
She was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2023. She currently resides in Mono, Ontario.[1]
Early life and education
Lois McDonall was born in Larkspur, Alberta. She began her vocal training in Edmonton with Eileen McEcheran, and also studied with Glyndwr Jones in Vancouver.[2] After winning the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in Seattle, Washington, Ms. McDonall was encouraged to seek a career in opera. On the recommendation of Irving Gutmann, she was connected with the University of Toronto where she studied with Irene Jessner, Herman Geiger-Torel and Jacqueline Richard.
Career
Lois McDonall made her Canadian Opera Company debut between 1967-9. Her early roles included: Susanna in Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari .
In 1970, McDonall became a resident artist at the
Ms. McDonall spent 14 years as a resident artist with the English National Opera.[4] In addition to her tenure at the ENO, Ms. McDonall made appearances at the Scottish Opera, the Welsh National Opera, Opera North and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, where she made her debut in 1975 in Richard Strauss' Die Frau ohne Schatten. She gave performances in Canada in the 1974 Festival Canada as the Countess and in 1975 with the COC in Die Fledermaus and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni at the Edmonton Opera in 1977. Ms. McDonall returned to live in Canada in 1984 and appeared as the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro at the Hamilton Opera. In 1988, she sang the title role in Fedora with "Opera in Concert". She also sang in the COC's production of Andrea Chénier in 1989.
Ms. McDonall has worked tirelessly in the years since her return to Canada to prepare young Canadian singers for their own careers in opera and classical music. She teaches now for the joy of watching students progress and achieve their dreams.
On December 28, 2023, Ms. McDonall’s efforts in support of Canadian opera - both singing and teaching - were officially recognized by the Governor General of Canada with her advancement as a Member of the Order of Canada. The award appropriately recognizes Ms. McDonall’s diligence and determination in overcoming the challenges which naturally arise from emanating from a remote Canadian pioneering farm community. It acknowledges the brilliance of her career despite those challenges.
Operatic roles
Lois McDonall has performed over 40 principal roles. Some of these roles include:
- Miss Jessel, Britten)
- Maria Padilla, Donizetti)
- Anna Karenina, Anna Karenina (Hamilton)
- Semele, Handel)
- Hanna, The Merry Widow (Lehár)
- Manon, Massenet)
- Mrs Medlock, The Secret Garden (Stephen McNeff)
- Donna Anna, Mozart)
- Fiordiligi, Mozart)
- Constanze, Mozart)
- The Countess, Mozart)
- Stella, The Tales of Hoffmann (Offenbach)
- Giulletta, The Tales of Hoffmann (Offenbach)
- Antonia, The Tales of Hoffmann (Offenbach)
- Musetta, Puccini)
- Kate Pinkerton, Puccini)
- Tosca, Puccini)
- Rosalinda, Die Fledermaus (Strauss)
- Arabella, Arabella (Strauss)
- Marschallin, Der Rosenkavalier (Strauss)
- Leonora, Verdi)
- Amelia, Verdi)
- Violetta, Verdi)
- Elsa, Lohengrin (Wagner)
- Freia, Das Rheingold (Wagner)
- The Old Maid, The Old Maid and the Thief (Menotti)
- The Witch, Hansel and Gretel (Engelbert Humperdinck)
Iain Hamilton and other contemporary music premieres
Lois McDonall has premiered the works of several composers. Among these, most notably is the British Composer, Iain Hamilton. He wrote a few pieces specifically for her voice.
Teaching career
Lois McDonall has taught at
Recordings
These are McDonall's recordings:[4]
- Margot le Rouge (Delius), BBC
- Ariodante (Handel), BBC
- The Merry Widow (Lehár), BBC
- Don Sanche (Liszt), BBC
- Rienzi, (Wagner), BBC
- Der Protagonist (Weill), BBC
- Das Rheingold (Wagner), EMI
- Maria Padilla (Donizetti), Opera Rara
- Les Martyrs (Donizetti), House of Opera
References
- ^ "Order of Canada appointees – December 2023". Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ a b Mercer, Ruby, "McDonall, Lois", The Canadian Encyclopedia. Accessed 17 December 2008.
- ^ Dean, Winton, "Review" (Music in London), The Musical Times 116.1590 (Aug. 1975): 723. JSTOR. Accessed 10 December 2008.
- ^ a b c Lois McDonall
- ^ Conway, Paul, Iain Hamilton (1922-2000), on musicweb-international.com. Accessed 17 December 2008
- ^ Biography: Othalie Graham Archived 2017-02-19 at the Wayback Machine on othaliegrahamsoprano.com. Accessed 17 December 2008