AN Aberdeen academic’s film inspired by their family connection to a 20th century soprano has achieved international success.
Madame Donalda, written by Professor Alan Marcus, delves into the life of a Canadian soprano, Pauline Lightstone, who performed as Pauline Donalda on the stage.
The University of Aberdeen professor has said that he first learned of her story from a family member.
He said: “I was told the story of Madame Donalda aka Pauline Lightstone by a great uncle of mine some 35 years ago when I learned that she was a relative of ours, and it made a sufficient impression on me that I was hopeful one day I might be able to tell it in film form."
The film has since received awards and been selected for 10 further film festivals across the world.
Awards include Best Documentary and Best Editing at the Experimental Dance and Music Film Festival 2024 in Toronto and Best Classical Music film at the Buenos Aires 11th Music Film Festival 2025.
The soprano’s stage name is a homage to leading philanthropist Donald Smith, who later became Lord Strathcona, a Scottish-born Canadian businessman.
Pauline first met Lord Strathcona when she was studying at Royal Victoria College in McGill University.
Strathcona, a champion of women’s education at the university, supported Pauline’s music training, including a period of study at the Conservatoire de Paris.
He later became Lord Rector and later Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen.
Speaking on the film’s success, the professor said: “It is gratifying that the film has been included in various international film festivals and won awards, but what I hope is that when people view the film, they not only learn of Donalda’s talents and be intrigued with her extraordinary accomplishments, but also be enthralled by the short performances in her old recordings, and more recently through the participation in the film of Bulgarian soprano Sofia Dimitrova, who brings the musical pieces to life with great passion.”
Lightstone had her first debut in Nice, France in 1904, before performing for the Queen in London and The Brussels Royal Opera House in 1905. She went on to sing leading roles across Europe.
During the first World War, the soprano organised benefit concerts to support the war effort. She went on to set up the Opera Guild of Montreal in 1942, which was the first place where many operas were shown in Canada.
Filming for the feature took place in Montreal, London and Aberdeen.
