Marian Anderson Tribute

Here is a great spiritual by the legendary diva Marian Anderson.
Arturo Toscanini claimed that contralto Marian Anderson had a voice that came along "once in a hundred years". But because she was black, Anderson's prospects as a classical singer in this country were initially quite limited. Eventually, however, the magnitude of her talent won her broad recognition in the United States. When she began touring regularly in this country in 1935, she was quickly acknowledged as the world's greatest contralto. Marian Anderson (1897 -- 1993) is perhaps best remembered for her performance on Easter Sunday, 1939 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., which, commencing with a dignified and stirring rendition of "America", attracted a crowd of more 75.000 of all colours and was a sensation with a national radio audience. Marian Anderson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She joined a junior church choir at the age of six, and applied to an all-white music school after her graduation from high school in 1921, but was turned away because she was black. Consequently, she continued her singing studies with a private teacher. She debuted with the New York Philharmonic on August 26, 1925 and scored an immediate success, also with the critics. In 1928, she sang for the first time at Carnegie Hall. Her reputation was further advanced by her tour through Europe in the early 1930's. In 1939, the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius made a new arrangement of the song Solitude and dedicated it to Anderson. On January 7, 1955, Anderson was the first African-American to perform with the New York Metropolitan Opera. In 1958 she was officially designated delegate to the United Nations, a formalization of her role as "goodwill ambassador" of the U.S. she played earlier, and in 1972 she was awarded the UN Peace Prize. After an extensive farewell tour, she retired from singing in 1965. Her achievements were recognized and honored with many prizes, including the Kennedy Center Honors in 1978 and a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1991. In 1993, Anderson died at age 96 in Portland, Oregon. She is interred at Eden Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On January 27, 2005, a commemorative U.S. postage stamp honored Marian Anderson as part of the Black Heritage series.
Enjoy Marian Anderson's deep, magnificent voice!

Category:

Music

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• Marian
• Anderson

[aussiechickdiana]

Marian Anderson had grace, dignity and talent. And she used her 'gifts' to their fullest; sometimes against all odds.

She is, and remains a symbol for us all. Plus, through the wonders of technology, she lives also in the 'soundasphere', for all to hear...and marvel.

RIP Marian, and many thanks. diana <3

[Tenortalker]

The depth and humanity of Marian Anderson touches our souls and inspires us to higher things whatever our faith.

[Chesterbarnes1]

What a great woman, who carried herself with dignity and grace

[hoshiesther]

She was BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Absolutely amazing!!

She was a goddess of music!!

Thank you so much for this tribute!

[WoodeytheBigEyedOne]

Her voice was mournfully rich in this song

[7inga7]

What a great artist she was!

[VocalHoney]

A bliss of glory!

[justinian693]

My God! I could barely get through that! Almost made me pass out...Wow.... That's unreal.......

[lungdoc]

Thanks for such a beautiful and well deserved tribute.

[louloubeb]

Sehr Beeindrukende Stimme

coool