Marjorie Lawrence facts for kids
Marjorie Florence Lawrence (born February 17, 1907 – died January 13, 1979) was a famous Australian singer. She was a soprano, which means she had a high singing voice. Marjorie was especially known for singing in the operas of Richard Wagner.
She made history at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. She was the first soprano to ride a horse into fake flames during a scene in Wagner's opera Götterdämmerung, just as the composer wanted.
In 1941, Marjorie became ill with polio, a sickness that affects the body's movement. Even after this, she continued to perform and later taught music at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Her amazing life story was made into a movie in 1955 called Interrupted Melody. Actress Eleanor Parker played Marjorie Lawrence in the film.
Contents
Marjorie's Early Life and Dreams
Marjorie Lawrence was born in a small town called Deans Marsh, about 135 kilometers (84 miles) southwest of Melbourne, Australia. She was one of six children. Her father was a butcher, and her mother played the organ at church. Marjorie's mother passed away when she was only two years old, so her grandmother helped raise her.
She went to local schools and joined the church choir. By the age of ten, she was already a soloist, meaning she sang alone. Marjorie loved opera after listening to records by famous singers like Nellie Melba.
As a teenager, she won many singing contests. At 18, she moved to Melbourne to find work and get voice lessons. She faced money problems but kept pursuing her dream. After winning a singing competition in Geelong in 1928, she was advised to study in Paris with a teacher named Cécile Gilly. In Paris, Marjorie worked hard and learned to make her voice even stronger and reach higher notes.
A Star on the Opera Stage
In January 1932, Marjorie Lawrence made her first opera performance in Monte Carlo. She sang the role of Elisabeth in Richard Wagner's opera Tannhäuser. Soon after, in 1933, she performed at the famous Opera Garnier in Paris.
On December 18, 1935, she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. She sang the role of Brünnhilde in Die Walküre. The next year, she performed a famous scene in Götterdämmerung. In this scene, she rode her horse right into the flames, just as Wagner had imagined. She was the first singer at the Met to do this! Marjorie had been an athletic child and learned to ride horses in Australia, which helped her with this daring performance.
Marjorie was very popular because she was not only a great singer but also very active and beautiful on stage. She could perform the "Dance of the Seven Veils" in Richard Strauss's opera Salome with great energy.
During World War II, Marjorie returned to Australia. A famous critic named Neville Cardus praised her performances, saying her voice was "superb" and "rich in vocal splendour."
In 1941, Marjorie married Dr. Thomas King in New York City.
Facing Challenges and Continuing to Inspire
While performing in Mexico in 1941, Marjorie suddenly couldn't stand. She had polio, which caused her legs to become paralyzed. She received special treatment to help her muscles.
Eighteen months later, Marjorie bravely returned to the stage. She performed while seated in a chair, reclining, or on a special platform. Even though she couldn't move around as easily, she continued to sing until 1952. In 1944, during World War II, she performed charity concerts for soldiers in Australia, singing from her chair.
After leaving the stage, Marjorie became a teacher. She moved to her ranch in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and taught music to students from all over the world. She also taught at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock until she passed away.
Although she was best known for Wagner's operas, Marjorie also sang in other famous works like Salome and Georges Bizet's Carmen. She made many excellent recordings, especially of Wagner's music. She was very successful in France, Mexico, Australia, South America, and the United States.
In 1946, France honored her with the Légion d'honneur for her work there.
In 1949, Marjorie wrote her life story in a book called Interrupted Melody. In 1955, a movie based on her book was released with the same name. While actress Eleanor Parker played Marjorie, another soprano, Eileen Farrell, sang the opera parts.
Marjorie Lawrence passed away on January 13, 1979, at the age of 71. She was buried in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where she had lived for many years.
Honors and Recognition
- In 1946, Marjorie Lawrence received the Légion d'honneur from France for her contributions.
- In 1976, she was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by the Australian government.
Images for kids
-
Marjorie Lawrence, 12 June 1939
-
Marjorie Lawrence in 1943, most likely in Montreal
See also
In Spanish: Marjorie Lawrence para niños
