Portia May White ( English Portia May White ) - Canadian opera singer of the XX century, contralto . Known as “the singer who broke the racial barrier in Canadian classical music.”
| Portion white Portia white | |
|---|---|
| basic information | |
| Full name | Portion May White |
| Date of Birth | June 24, 1911 |
| Place of Birth | Truro (Nova Scotia) |
| Date of death | February 13, 1968 (56 years old) |
| Place of death | Toronto |
| A country |  Canada |
| Professions | opera singer , music teacher |
| Years of activity | since |
| Singing voice | contralto |
| Instruments | |
| Genres | |
Content
Biography
Portia White was born in Truro (Nova Scotia) into a priest's family and raised in Halifax , where she sang in a church choir. Received teacher education at the University of Dalusie and since 1929 worked as a teacher in the Negro communities of Nova Scotia. At the same time, she took singing lessons at the Halifax Conservatory . She sang in religious broadcasts conducted by her father.
The first successes came to White at the Halifax Music Festival, where she won in 1935, 1937, and 1938. In 1939 she received a scholarship to study at the Halifax Conservatory, where, under the guidance of Ernesto Vinci, she began to sing like contralto (before that she sang like mezzo-soprano ).
Having given several recitals at Acadia and Mount Allison Universities , White debuted in Toronto in 1941. Her performance spirituals received high marks from reviewers of the newspapers Globe and Mail and Evening Telegram . She becomes the first Canadian black singer to gain popularity in North America (although the search for concert venues is sometimes difficult due to her skin color), and in 1944 she performs at the New York City Hall, where she lives during those years. At this time, she is compared to the American black contralto singer Marian Anderson .
After touring Central and South America in 1946, White began to have problems with her voice, as well as conflicts with the entrepreneur. After a tour of the Atlantic provinces of Canada in 1948 and performances in Switzerland and France, she temporarily leaves the stage. In 1952, she moved to Toronto and took lessons from Irene Jessner , while teaching herself. Among her students from this and a later period, Dina Christie , Lorne Green and Robert Goulet . She resumes performances in the mid-50s, but by no means in the same volume. In 1964, she sings in Charlottetown for Queen Elizabeth , and she gives her last concert in 1967 in Ottawa.
Recognition of Merit
The portion of May White is included in the number of Canadian national figures of historical significance [1] . A postage stamp was issued in her honor and a monument was erected in her hometown. Portia White is named after a musical scholarship and a prize.
Notes
- ↑ White, Portia May ( Parks Canada )
Links
- James B. McPherson, Betty Nygaard King . Portia White (The Canadian Encyclopedia)