Marian Anderson - A personal experience

I got the following from Brother John, Rather than add it on at the bottom of the post it deserves its own post. What a wonderful thing to have experienced. Oh and it is so nice to know that the Black History posts are being read. Thanks John.

THANKS for honoring this great American today.

When I was a kid, and long before I became a professional musician, I was lucky enough to hear her in concert. I suspect it must have been sometime in the mid '50s, and I also suspect it was at Wartburg, on their concert series, though there's an outside chance that it might have been a part of my hometown Community Concerts series, too. The place isn't important.

In any case, the maestra was, quite naturally, past her vocal prime, though the voice was still quite wonderful, and the interpretations and musicianship were flawless--almost beyond peer.

But it was her PRESENCE! She arrived on stage in a full-length, dark-red velvet concert gown, her eyes sparkling and full of interest. Her usual accompanist, Franz Rupp, was at the piano. Her eyes swept the audience, and she smiled, oh, so graciously. And then she bowed again.

Then she began to sing, Schubert, as I recall, whose Lieder she sang with such supreme mastery. And THERE was that VOICE. Not the voice of those early RCA recordings, but Marian Anderson's voice nonetheless. Dark, sweet, smooth as the velvet of her dress. Filled with almost uncanny, nuanced artistry. Perfect phrasing. Perfect enunciation in at least four languages. And a presence on stage that held all mesmerized.

She was 60 years old or thereabouts at the time. It is still one of the most electrifying recitals I have ever attended.

Toscanini was correct when he said that voices like hers come along only once in a hundred years. In fact, he may have been overly optimistic, because they may not appear even with that regularity.

Of course Marian Anderson is an icon of African-American history. And of course her achievements as a model of human dignity and freedom are of immense import. But she was SO much more than all that..