Marian Anderson
February 27, 1897- April 8, 1993
The world-famous Contralto opera singer
The first black American woman to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on January 7, 1955
MARION ANDERSON QUOTE
“When I sing, I don’t want them to see that my face is black. I don’t want them to see that my face is white. I want them to see my soul. And that is colorless.”
Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Singer, leader, and Activist she is one of the most celebrated contralto singers of the twentieth century. Most of her career was spent touring and performing in concert which included recital in major music venues and with famous orchestras throughout the United States and Europe between 1925 and 1965. She is the recipient of numerous awards and medals, including assignments as an Ambassador. Anderson continued to break barriers for black artists in the United States, becoming the first black person, American or otherwise, to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on January 7, 1955. Her performance as Ulrica in Giuseppe Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera at the Met was the only time she sang an opera role on stage.. Again history was made when a personal invitation from the Secretary of the Interior, Harold L. Ickes, for her to sing during the MARCH ON WASHINGTON she refused the hall that she was denied prior that provided and instead On April 9, 1939, during civil rights sang for an audience of 75 thousand in front of the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 and millions more via radio.
Although Anderson retired from singing in 1965, she continued to appear publicly. On several occasions, she narrated Aaron Copland’s Lincoln Portrait, including a performance with the Philadelphia Orchestra at Saratoga in 1976, conducted by the composer. Her achievements were recognized and honored with many prizes, including the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal in 1939; the University of Pennsylvania Glee Club Award of Merit in 1973; the United Nations Peace Prize, New York City’s Handel Medallion, and the Congressional Gold Medal, all in 1977; Kennedy Center Honors in 1978; the George Peabody Medal in 1981; the National Medal of Arts in 1986; and a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1991. In 1980, the United States Treasury Department coined a half-ounce gold commemorative medal with her likeness,