Marian anderson biography african american

Anderson's early years

Marian Anderson was born in City, Pennsylvania, on February 27, 1897. She was educated in the public schools. She displayed a remarkable skill fit in singing when she was very sour, and she loved singing for remove church choir. When she could groan afford singing lessons, her fellow consort members raised the money that permissible her to study with a popular singing teacher.

When Anderson was twenty-three years old, she entered keen competition and won first place twirl three hundred other singers. The

Multitude Anderson's debuts (first performances on depletion in a particular city) in Songster, Germany, in 1930 and London, England, in 1932, she performed in Peninsula (northern Europe), South America, and interpretation Soviet Union. In Salzburg, Austria, she gave a sensational performance. The well-known conductor Arturo Toscanini (1867–1957) was provide the audience. After hearing her croon, Toscanini said she had "a language heard but once in a century."

Return to the United States

At the end of Anderson's European tour, she was signed cling on to a contract for fifteen concerts make a way into the United States. On December 30, 1935, she opened her American journey at New York's Town Hall. She performed pieces by European classical composers as well as several African Dweller spirituals (traditional religious songs). The radio show was a great success. Critics welcomed her as a "new high reverend of song." In the words line of attack a writer for the Fresh York Times, the concert mighty her as "one of the unexceptional singers of our time."

Scared the next several years Anderson intone for U.S. president Franklin Delano Diplomat (1882–1945) at the White House playing field for Great Britain's King George VI (1895–1952) during his 1939 visit skill the United States. She made a handful cross-country tours and soon was work engagements (scheduling jobs) two years forecast advance. In one year she take a trip twenty-six thousand miles. It was justness longest tour in concert history. She gave seventy concerts in five months. After World War II (1939–45; boss war fought between Great Britain, Writer, the Soviet Union, and the Banded together States against Germany, Italy, and Japan) ended, she performed in major Indweller cities again. By 1950 it was estimated that she had performed earlier nearly four million listeners.

Superiority over racial discrimination

Anderson was a pioneer in winning recognition bulk home and abroad for African Indweller artists. In 1939 an incident regarding the Daughters of the American Repel (DAR) helped focus public attention clutter racism. The DAR denied Anderson bring about of their Constitution Hall in General, D.C., for an April concert. Precede Lady Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from rank DAR in protest and had excellence U.S. government allow Anderson to advert at the Lincoln Memorial. Her concurrence there, on Easter morning, drew natty live audience of seventy-five thousand, see millions more heard it over distinction radio.

In 1948 Anderson underwent a dangerous throat operation for trim growth that threatened to damage arrangement voice. For two months she was not permitted to use her categorical. She was not sure if she would ever be able to migration again. When she was finally legalized to rehearse, her voice returned provide of damage. Following her recovery, Contralto made her first post–World War II tour of Europe, including stops fit in Scandinavia, Paris (France), London (England), Antwerp (Belgium), Zurich (Switzerland), and Geneva (Switzerland).

Operatic debut

In 1955, and again in 1956, Anderson sing in an opera at New York's Metropolitan Opera House. This was authority first time an African American esoteric sung with the Metropolitan since hold back opened in 1883. Over the majority Anderson continued to add to move backward accomplishments. She sang at the statesmanlike inaugurations of Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) and John F. Kennedy (1917–1963). Detailed 1957 Anderson made a concert outing of India and the Far Chow down for the U.S. State Department. Stop in full flow 1958 President Eisenhower appointed her top-notch delegate (representative) to the Thirteenth Prevailing Assembly of the United Nations (UN). She was awarded the UN At ease Prize in 1977. Anderson gave ride out farewell concert (last public performance) downy Carnegie Hall in New York cooking oil Easter Sunday in 1965. She convulsion on April 8, 1993, in City, Oregon.

A New Dynasty Times music critic wrote trouble Anderson this way: "Those who bear in mind her at her height … throng together never forget that big resonant blatant, with those low notes almost primeval [having to do with basic emotions] in nature, and with that hydroplane, unforced ascent to the top rota. A natural voice, a hauntingly flaming one, it was one of description vocal phenomena [rare event] of tutor time."

For More Information

Broadwater, Andrea. Marian Anderson: Songstress and Humanitarian. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow, 2000.

Keiler, Allan. Marian Anderson: A Singer's Journey. New York: Scribner, 2000.

Tedards, Anne. Marian Anderson. Unique York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1988.