Marian Anderson's biggest obstacle had to be when she got bad reviews from the critics and vowed never to sing again. Marian's biggest achievement was
winning the Nation's Peace Prize
. Marian was persistent because she never gave up on singing. I learned from her that everyone is the same underneath.
What are 3 important facts about Marian Anderson?
She was
the first African American singer to perform at the White House
and also the first African American to sing with New York's Metropolitan Opera. Marian Anderson was born in Philadelphia on Feb. 17, 1902, and was educated in the public schools. She displayed a remarkable flair for singing when very young.
What barriers did Marian Anderson break?
Marian Anderson would continue to make civil rights history. In January 1955, she broke
the color barrier for vocal soloists at New York's Metropolitan Opera
when Met manager Rudolf Bing hired her to sing in Verdi's Un ballo en maschera.
What are some of Marian Anderson's accomplishments?
Marian Anderson had over 1,500 songs in her repertoire, sang in nine languages, and performed on four continents. She received national honors throughout her life including the NAACP's Spingarn Medal in 1939, the United Nations Peace Prize in 1977, and a
Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1991
.
What caused Marian Anderson death?
She was 96. She died at the home of her nephew, the conductor James DePreist. Lee Walter, a friend of the singer, gave the cause as
congestive heart failure
a month after a stroke.
What was Marian Anderson net worth when she died?
Anderson, who the Los Angeles Business Journal estimated this year had a net worth of
$3.91 billion
, also helped groom the next generation of Southern California business leaders through generous donations.
Where was Marian Anderson not allowed to sing?
In 1939 during the era of racial segregation, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) refused to allow Anderson to sing to an integrated audience in
Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.
The incident placed Anderson in the spotlight of the international community on a level unusual for a classical musician.
How did Marian get the money to afford singing lessons?
She displayed a remarkable skill for singing when she was very young, and she loved singing for her church choir. When she could not afford singing lessons,
her fellow choir members
raised the money that allowed her to study with a famous singing teacher.
Why did Marian Anderson sing at the Lincoln Memorial?
It was one of the most extraordinary concerts in history. Marian Anderson sang before 75,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial on April 9, 1939. She did it
because the Daughters of the American Revolution wouldn't let her sing before an integrated audience at their Constitution Hall
.
What was Marian Anderson's personality?
Classical, opera, and spiritual singer
Acclaimed as much for her gentle demeanor as for her rich voice, she effectively bridged all racial gaps with her powerful renditions of classical, operatic, and spiritual songs. At age 89, Anderson's characteristic
grace, nobility, and modesty
were once again in evidence.
What was Marian Anderson family life like?
Marian Anderson was born in Philadelphia on Feburary 27, 1897. She lived with
her mother and sisters
because her father died when she was very young. Her mother became a cleaning woman to support the family. They were very poor, so Marian got a job washing steps.
What award did Marian Anderson receive in 1963?
Anderson was awarded
the Presidential Medal of Freedom
in 1963, the Congressional Gold Medal in 1977, the Kennedy Center Honors in 1978, the National Medal of Arts in 1986, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991.
Why was Marian Anderson's performance at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 significant for scholars of history?
On April 9, 1939, American contralto Marian Anderson (1897-1993) stood as a beacon of hope for a country being torn apart by racial strife. Anderson's legendary performance at the Lincoln Memorial on that Easter Sunday exists in the annals of American history as
a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights movement
.
Why did Marian Anderson move to Oregon?
Anderson's husband died in 1986. She lived on her Connecticut farm until 1992, when
her health began to fail
. She moved to Portland, Oregon, to live with her nephew James DePreist, the music director of the Oregon Symphony.
How did Marian Anderson influence others?
In 1955 Anderson became the first African-American to sing in an opera at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. And in 1963 she sang as part of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in which Martin Luther King made his famous I Have a Dream speech. She sang, again, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
What was Marian Anderson's dream?
She was intent on perfecting her language skills (as most operas were written in Italian and German)
and learning the art of lieder singing
. At a debut concert in Berlin, she attracted the attention of Rule Rasmussen and Helmer Enwall, managers who arranged a tour of Scandinavia.
