Background
Guttman, Irving Allen was born on October 27, 1928 in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. Son of Shea and Bernetta (Schaffer) Guttman.
Guttman, Irving Allen was born on October 27, 1928 in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. Son of Shea and Bernetta (Schaffer) Guttman.
Opera student, Royal Conservatory Music, Toronto, 1947-1952; Doctor of Letters (honorary), University Winnipeg, 1996.
Described by The Canadian Encyclopedia as "the father of opera in Western Canada", he co-founded the Edmonton Opera, the Regina Opera Company and the Manitoba Opera. The latter of which he served as artistic director from 1977–1998. Guttman was a shrewd judge of talent and helped nurture the careers of several young Canadian singers, including Tracy Dahl, Maureen Forrester, Judith Forst, and Ben Heppner.
He also was able to draw several highly acclaimed artists to Canada for their initial appearances.
First attracting international attention in 1963 when he mounted a production of Vincenzo Bellini"s Norma at the Vancouver Opera starring Joan Sutherland and Marilyn Horne. Other artists whose Canadian debuts he orchestrated included José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, Samuel Ramey, and Beverly Sills.
A graduate of the Strathcona Academy in Montréal (1941–1946) and The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto (1947–1952), Guttman was awarded Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Winnipeg (1995) and the University of British Columbia (2009). He has also been inducted into the Edmonton Cultural Hall of Fame (1988), the Vancouver Hall of Fame (1994), the British Columbia Entertainment Hall of Fame (1994), and the Canadian Opera Hall of Fame (1995).
Member Canadian Equity, American Guild Musical Artists. M C.