Donald Smith (tenor)

Donald Sydney Smith OBE (27 July 1920 – 1 December 1998) was an Australian operatic tenor.

Donald Sydney Smith^[1] was born in Bundaberg, Queensland,^[2] on 27 July 1920.^[3]

Smith's 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 notorious Westbrook Farm Home for boys (outside Toowoomba), where he spent some seven months for allegedly stealing and "joy riding" in a friend's sister's boyfriend's motor vehicle with some of his mates. It is understood that Smith was the only youth in the group who was able to drive a motor vehicle, which he learned to do helping his father deliver milk on the family milk run. Smith was subsequently released into the care of relatives of his mother a Mr Leslie Robertson in Toowoomba and he then went to live with them in Brisbane. The circumstances of Smith's trial and sentence have never been detailed.

During the period after Smith's release from Westbrook, in his early teenage years, he continued to educate himself whilst working as a sugar cane cutter on properties in and around the Bundaberg area. At the age of 16 he gained his first employment with the Bundaberg Millaquin Sugar Mill and started training as a sugar chemist.

Smith enlisted in the WWII war effort on 20 December 1941, and was discharged from the 47th Australian Infantry Battalion (Service Number QX48655), of the Citizens Military Forces on 28 October 1943.^[4] During this period, he served in the Citizens Military Forces and the Australian Imperial Force, on continuous full-time war service, both in Australia and at Milne Bay, New Guinea. It was in New Guinea whilst serving as private and a machine gunner, that Donald was wounded^[5] in the right hand by friendly fire, after being mistaken for the enemy, whilst setting up range markers for the machine 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 had been taken. Therefore, it was during this time that his wife Joyce Lovett (who was on her way to hospital to deliver their first daughter Deanna), was advised by the Army that he was reported "missing in action, believed to be deceased". During recuperation for his injuries and after being repatriated to Australia, Joy was then advised that Smith was still alive.

Smith began his singing career on the local radio station 4BU Bundaberg, firstly singing mainly "country and western" music. He also toured the local area with a group called Novac's Troupers.

Although a natural tenor from birth, Smith had his first "singing lesson" in Bundaberg with Kate Gratehead. It was she who helped him refine his musical ability and vocal technique for his natural tenor voice. Following Smith's return to civilian life after being discharged from the army, he and Joy firstly relocated from Bundaberg to Toowoomba and then eventually to Brisbane. In Brisbane Smith found work as a clerk with the government's Repatriation Department. He also found additional work to support his young family, including that as a "lift driver" in a David Jones department store.

On relocating to Brisbane, Smith also became acquainted with the well known band leader J. J. Kelly. Under Kelly's direction, he performed the tenor roles in some of his first operas. These included the lead tenor role of Sir Walter Raleigh in Edward German's opera Merrie England in Brisbane in 1944 - "The English Rose". He also performed the lead tenor role of Thaddeus in Michael William Balfe's opera The Bohemian Girl - "When Other Lips - Then You'll Remember Me" and the role of Don Caesar de Bazen in William Vincent Wallace's opera Maritana - "Yes Let Me Like A Soldier Fall".

In 1948, Smith joined the Brisbane Opera Society, and sang many leading tenor roles with them, such as Don José in Georges Bizet's Carmen, the title role in Charles Gounod's Faust, the Duke of Mantua in Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto, Roméo in Charles Gounod's opera Roméo et Juliette and Turiddu in Pietro Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana and Canio in Ruggero Leoncavallo's opera Pagliacci. The role of the jilted lover Canio in particular was one which Smith would eventually "make his own" and for which he would become famous.

In 1952, after winning the Mobil Quest^[5] singing competition, Smith travelled to Italy and then to England to study at London's National School of Opera. Following his return to Australia, he performed with an Italian touring company in 1955. Here he sang alongside singers such as Gabriella Tucci and Kenneth Neate. In 1958 he appeared with the then Elizabethan Trust Opera Company. (which eventually became The Australian Opera Company and now Opera Australia). He sang the roles of Count Almaviva in Gioachino Rossini's opera The Barber of Seville and Tamino in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera The Magic Flute. In 1960 he sang his first Pinkerton in Giacomo Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly opposite the Australian soprano Dame Joan Hammond.

In 1962 Smith again travelled to England to join the Sadler's Wells Opera Company. Here he performed many Verdi and Puccini operas including Rigoletto, Attila, Ernani, A Masked Ball, Girl of the Golden West, Tosca and Il Trittico. He also made his debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, where he sang the role of Calaf in Giocomo Puccini's opera Turandot opposite the English soprano Amy Shuard. He remained in the UK for six years and returned to Australia in 1967 to sing with The Australian Opera, where he appeared is such roles as Canio in Pagliacci, Manrico in Il Trovatore, Bob Boles in Benjamin Britten's opera Peter Grimes, the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto, Dick Johnson in La fanciulla del West, Cavaradossi in Tosca, Radames in Aida, and the King Gustavus in Un Ballo In Maschera. 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, Smith as Cavaradossi, and Tito Gobbi as Scarpia.

On 21 January 1973 his 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 métier, Smith 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.

Smith's last performance for Australian Opera was in Verdi's I Masnadieri, where he sang with Dame Joan Sutherland, the only times that these two 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.

Smith released many 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.

At the age of 18, Smith met Thelma Joyce Lovett, who eventually became his lifelong partner and whom he married in Bundaberg in 1942. They remained together until his death in Brisbane. They had a son and two daughters.

Smith died on 1 December 1998 in the Pleasantville Nursing Home in Wynnum, Brisbane, ending an illustrious operatic career. He was survived by his wife Thelma Joyce (who died on 26 November 2009) and their three children.

Smith made many individual recordings both in England with the Sadler's Wells Opera Company and in Australia with EMI records and other recording companies. He also appears in compilation videos and CD's such as Celebration – 40 Years of Opera,^[6] and Australian Singers of Renown in Opera, Operetta & Song, compiled by John Cargher.^[7]

His eldest grandson, Jason Cundy, was an English Premier League player for Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Ipswich, and played for England U21.

On 2 June 1973 Smith was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Civil), for Music.^[1] He was the first resident member of the Australian Opera to be awarded this honour.

• Sydney Morning Herald, obituary, 5 December 1998.
• Ann Atkinson; Linsay Knight; Margaret McPhee (1996). The Dictionary of Performing Arts in Australia. Allen & Unwin. p. 212. ISBN 978-1-86373-898-9.
• 'Donald Sydney (Don) Smith (1920–1998)' by Peter Roennfeldt in Australian Dictionary of Biography, published online 2024.

• Australian Dictionary of Biography: Donald Sydney (Don) Smith (1920–1998) by Peter Roennfeldt.