Post by Blaque on Mar 13, 2007 7:50:32 GMT -5
Marian Anderson
About Marian Anderson:
Despite singer Marian Anderson’s reluctance to become involved in racial issues and the civil rights movement, her presence in the music world inevitably led to the breaking down of racial barriers. The most significant was her performance at the Metropolitan Opera House, which made her the first African American to perform there.
Marian Anderson was born into a working class family in Philadelphia. From early childhood, Anderson had a passion for singing. When she was six years old, she joined the junior choir at the Union Baptist Church.
In high school, Anderson needed to make money to help support her family. She began her professional career singing for the Philadelphia Choral Society. Her talent was immediately recognized. Through the generous financial support of the black community, Anderson received professional coaching from Agnes Reifsnyder from 1916 to 1918.
When she was eighteen, she began attending high school while performing professionally. In 1921, she graduated. She applied to a music school, but she was rejected because of her race. Instead of attending school, she began studying classical songs and arias with voice instructor Guiseppe Boghetti.
During the 1920s, her career took off. She toured throughout the United States in black communities. In 1924, she made her first recording of spirituals with the Victor Talking Machine Company. On August 25, 1925, she sang at the Lewissohn Stadium and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra accompanied her. Her concert appearance was a result of winning a music contest that had over 300 contestants.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Anderson toured and trained throughout Europe. She performed in England, Germany, France, Sweden, Asia, and the Soviet Union. She made appearances at the opera houses of London, Oslo, Berlin, Copenhagen, and Helsinki. Some of the best composers and conductors accompanied her performances.
Anderson’s European tour gave her the publicity she needed. She became a well-regarded singer who received recognition throughout Europe and the United States for superior ability. Despite her growing popularity and talent, in 1939 the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) refused to allow her to perform at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. on the account of her race. Their refusal received negative publicity and Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the DAR in protest. In response to the DAR’s refusal, Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes invited her to sing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. On April 9, 1939, Anderson sang in front of 75,000 people. Millions saw the live broadcast.
On January 7, 1955, Anderson broke down a color barrier. She became the first African American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. In her opera debut, she appeared in the production Un Ballo in Mascher. She received a standing ovation.
Anderson was the recipient of numerous awards. Eleanor Roosevelt presented her with the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal (1939), she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1963), President Carter awarded her the congressional gold medal (1977), and in 1991 she received a Grammy award for lifetime achievement.
Anderson performed in her last tour at the age of 68. When she was 94, she was diagnosed with bowel cancer. She decided not to undergo treatment. She died in Portland, Oregon on April 8, 1993.
About Marian Anderson:
Despite singer Marian Anderson’s reluctance to become involved in racial issues and the civil rights movement, her presence in the music world inevitably led to the breaking down of racial barriers. The most significant was her performance at the Metropolitan Opera House, which made her the first African American to perform there.
Marian Anderson was born into a working class family in Philadelphia. From early childhood, Anderson had a passion for singing. When she was six years old, she joined the junior choir at the Union Baptist Church.
In high school, Anderson needed to make money to help support her family. She began her professional career singing for the Philadelphia Choral Society. Her talent was immediately recognized. Through the generous financial support of the black community, Anderson received professional coaching from Agnes Reifsnyder from 1916 to 1918.
When she was eighteen, she began attending high school while performing professionally. In 1921, she graduated. She applied to a music school, but she was rejected because of her race. Instead of attending school, she began studying classical songs and arias with voice instructor Guiseppe Boghetti.
During the 1920s, her career took off. She toured throughout the United States in black communities. In 1924, she made her first recording of spirituals with the Victor Talking Machine Company. On August 25, 1925, she sang at the Lewissohn Stadium and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra accompanied her. Her concert appearance was a result of winning a music contest that had over 300 contestants.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Anderson toured and trained throughout Europe. She performed in England, Germany, France, Sweden, Asia, and the Soviet Union. She made appearances at the opera houses of London, Oslo, Berlin, Copenhagen, and Helsinki. Some of the best composers and conductors accompanied her performances.
Anderson’s European tour gave her the publicity she needed. She became a well-regarded singer who received recognition throughout Europe and the United States for superior ability. Despite her growing popularity and talent, in 1939 the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) refused to allow her to perform at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. on the account of her race. Their refusal received negative publicity and Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the DAR in protest. In response to the DAR’s refusal, Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes invited her to sing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. On April 9, 1939, Anderson sang in front of 75,000 people. Millions saw the live broadcast.
On January 7, 1955, Anderson broke down a color barrier. She became the first African American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. In her opera debut, she appeared in the production Un Ballo in Mascher. She received a standing ovation.
Anderson was the recipient of numerous awards. Eleanor Roosevelt presented her with the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal (1939), she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1963), President Carter awarded her the congressional gold medal (1977), and in 1991 she received a Grammy award for lifetime achievement.
Anderson performed in her last tour at the age of 68. When she was 94, she was diagnosed with bowel cancer. She decided not to undergo treatment. She died in Portland, Oregon on April 8, 1993.