Donald Smith (tenor) - Biography

Biography

Donald Sydney Smith was born in Bundaberg, Queensland, on 27 July 1920. His early schooling and education was spasmodic and at around 10 years old, while in 4th grade primary school, he was removed from school by his parents to help work on his family's milk run and dairy property. At around the age of 12 years old he was sentenced to the Westbrook Farm Home for boys (outside Toowoomba), where he spent some seven months for allegedly stealing and 'joy riding' in a friend's father's motor vehicle. He was subsequently released into the care of one of his older sisters. During this period in his early teenage years he continued to educate himself while working as a sugar cane cutter on properties in and around the Bundaberg area. At the age of 18 years old he met Thelma Joyce Lovett, whom he married in Bundaberg in 1942 and remained with until his death. After his wedding he worked in the capacity as a sugar chemist for the Bundaberg Fairymead Sugar Mill. In 1942 their son Robin was born, and his two daughters Deanna and Beth were born in 1943 and 1945 respectively.

On 4 October 1941, during World War II, Smith enlisted in the Australian Army. He served at Milne Bay in New Guinea. It was in New Guinea while serving as private and a machine gunner that he was wounded in the right hand by friendly fire after being mistaken for the enemy, while setting up range markers for the guns. He was first transported to an American based hospital ship for treatment of his injuries. The Australian Army at that time were unaware of where he was being treated. Therefore it was during this time that his wife Joyce (who was on her way to hospital to deliver their first daughter Deanna) was advised by the Army that he was "missing in action, believed to be deceased". He was discharged on 28 October 1943 as a private from the 47th Battalion. During recuperation for his injuries and after being repatriated to Australia, his family were then advised that he was still alive.

Smith began his career singing on the local radio station 4BU Bundaberg, singing mainly country and western songs. His first singing teacher was a lady named Kate Gratehead. It was she who helped him refine his musical ability and vocal technique for his natural tenor voice. After the birth of their third child, Smith and his wife left Bundaberg and relocated firstly to Toowoomba and then to Brisbane. Here Smith became acquainted with the well known band leader J.J. Kelly. Under Kelly's direction, Smith performed the tenor roles in his first operas, including the lead tenor role in Sir Edward German's Merrie England in Brisbane in 1944. He also performed the lead tenor role in Michael William Balfe's The Bohemian Girl and the role of 'Don Caesar de Bazen' in William Vincent Wallace's Maritana.

In 1948 he joined the Brisbane Opera Society, and sang roles such as Don José (Carmen), the title role in Faust, the Duke of Mantua (Rigoletto), Roméo (Roméo et Juliette) and Canio (Pagliacci). Canio was a role with which he became particularly associated. In 1952 he began two years of study at London's National School of Opera, after winning the 'Mobil Quest' singing competition. He returned to Australia, and sang with an Italian touring company in 1955, alongside singers such as Gabriella Tucci and Ken Neate. In 1958 he appeared with the then Elizabeth Trust Opera Company, singing Count Almaviva (The Barber of Seville) and Tamino (The Magic Flute). In 1960 he sang Pinkerton opposite Dame Joan Hammond's Madama Butterfly.

He made his Sadler's Wells debut in England in 1962, where he performed many Verdi operas such as Attila. He also sang at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, where he made his debut as Calaf in Turandot opposite the English soprano Amy Shuard. He made his career in the UK for six years, returning in 1967 to sing with the Australian Opera in roles such as Canio, Manrico (Il trovatore), Bob Boles (Peter Grimes), the Duke of Mantua, Dick Johnson (The Girl of the Golden West), Cavaradossi (Tosca), Radames (Aida), and the King (A Masked Ball). He also appeared in German roles, such as Florestan in Fidelio.

In 1968 the first opera telecast in Australia, Tosca, featured Marie Collier in the title role, Donald Smith as Cavaradossi, and Tito Gobbi as Scarpia.

On 21 January 1973 Donald was the first voice to sing in the Sydney Opera House, when he appeared in the first test concert in the Opera Theatre, along with Elizabeth Fretwell and members of the ABC National Training Orchestra, conducted by Robert Miller.

While Italian opera (and particularly where sung in English) was his natural metier, he also performed many concerts and song recitals. Together with his son Robin Donald Smith, who performed professionally under the name Robin Donald, they presented in 1974 a series of "Smith & Son" concerts throughout Australia.

Donald Smith's last performance for the Australian Opera was in Verdi's I masnadieri with Joan Sutherland. This was the only occasion that these two singers sang a complete opera together. He became ill and retired in 1981. He later became a singing teacher in Brisbane at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music.

He made many individual recordings both in England with the Sadler's Wells Opera Company and in Australia with EMI records. He also appears in compilation videos and CDs such as Celebration – 40 Years of Opera, and Australian Singers of Renown in Opera, Operetta & Song, compiled by John Cargher.

Donald Smith died in a Brisbane nursing home, with members of his extended family by his side, on 1 December 1998. He was survived by his wife Thelma Joyce (who died on 26 November 2009) and their three children.

His eldest grandson is former English Premier League player Jason Cundy, eldest son of his youngest daughter Carol-Beth Cundy.