21 Facts About Clarice Carson

Clarice Carson was a Canadian soprano singer who made her name in opera from the 1950 to 1986.

Clarice Carson was inducted into the Canadian Opera Hall of Fame in 1998 and became the first Canadian to receive a commemorative plaque at the National Opera Center in New York in 2013.

Clarice Carson was born Clarice Katz in Montreal, Quebec, on December 23,1929.

Clarice Carson was the daughter of Polish emigres who were employed in the garment industry.

Clarice Carson began studying professional vocal studies with soprano Pauline Donalda and pianist Jacqueline Richard in Montreal at the age of 19, before moving to New York to be taught by Julia Drobner.

Clarice Carson made her public debut at the Sarah Fischer Concert series in Montreal in 1956, and later her first operatic appearance at the Opera de Montreal as the Lady in Waiting in Macbeth three years later.

Clarice Carson subsequently spent three more seasons from 1967 to 1970 at the Metropolitan Opera, playing the Pamina in The Magic Flute.

Clarice Carson was later cast in Tosca from March to April 1969.

Clarice Carson then sang the lead role in Suor Angelica and Giorgietta in Il tabarro for the Opera du Quebec in 1971.

Clarice Carson was cast as Desdemona in Otello in 'a Opera du Quebec' production in 1973, before returning to New York to partake in the concert edition of Palestrina.

In 1977, Clarice Carson returned to the COC and was cast as Elisabeth of Valois in Don Carlos, and debuted with the Manitoba Opera for a second appearance in Don Giovanni.

Two years later, Clarice Carson joined the Pittsburgh Opera to sing the role of Donna Anna in Don Giovanni.

Clarice Carson retired from the opera after playing Senta in a production of The Flying Dutchman with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in late 1983.

Clarice Carson confided in her friend and former manager Ann Summers at the time that, "I'm lonely on the road".

Clarice Carson served as an active board member and mentored several young singers with the International Resource Centre for Performing Artists.

Clarice Carson died of kidney failure in the afternoon on May 2,2015, at her home in Toronto.

Clarice Carson's daughter described her as "extremely intelligent", and a person who was "very generous" and liked to enjoy life.

Clarice Carson was familiar to audiences in Ottawa, though she was unable to achieve much recognition and success outside of North America.

At the age of 18, Clarice Carson married William "Bill" Ornstein and they had two children.

Clarice Carson later had a short marriage to Greek-American tenor and vocal coach Philon Ktsanes.

Clarice Carson donated her musical scores, personal correspondence, program booklets and tape recordings of her performances to the IRCPA library to ensure her work was preserved for future generations.