Cary Archer Smith, Opera Critic Who Also Sang

Arts critics are familiar with the complaint: "Those who cannot do, become critics."

That was not the case with Cary Archer Smith, a respected free-lance opera and classical music critic in the Seattle area.

He had sung baritone with some of the world's best symphony and opera groups, including Seattle Opera.

Reviewers have called his singing and acting "artful and persuasive," adjectives that could be applied to his prose for newspapers in Tacoma, Auburn and Bellevue.

Mr. Smith died last Friday (March 19) of complications from a fall. He had been diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis. He was 65.

Born in Pleasantview, Va., he studied opera production and directing at the University of Washington Opera Workshop in the early 1960s.

He won both the Metropolitan and San Francisco Opera auditions, and took part in San Francisco Opera's Merola program. He also sang in the prestigious Bayreuth (Germany) Festival master classes.

He performed at New York Lyric Opera in New York City, where he ran an opera talent agency. He also performed with Frankfurt Opera and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

In 1970 he earned a bachelor's degree in music composition and opera at California State University, Northridge, where he later directed operas and taught music. Subsequently, he worked in Honolulu as the music critic for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. He sang with Honolulu Opera Theater and served as executive director of the Hawaii Philharmonic Orchestra.

Mr. Smith moved to Auburn in 1989 and wrote reviews for community newspapers as well as the Tacoma News-Tribune. He also wrote for the New York Opera News.

Surviving are his wife of nine years, Candace Jacobsen of Auburn; his children Clay Smith, Churchton, Md.; Sean Smith, San Francisco; and Regina Smith, Santa Rosa, Calif.; his stepson, Erik Nielsen, Boston; his mother, Tillie Smith, Charlottesville, Va.; and five grandchildren.

A memorial gathering will be held in May or June. Donations may go to the Auburn Symphony Association, Box 2186, Auburn, WA 98071.

Carole Beers' phone message number is 206-464-2391. Her e-mail address is: cbeers@seattletimes.com