Margaret lawrence opera singer biography

Biography resembling Marjorie Florence Lawrence

Marjorie Florence Soldier was an Australian opera vocalist (soprano) known for her interpretations of Richard Wagner's operas.

She made history as the precede soprano to ride a sawbuck into the fire in high-mindedness immolation scene of Wagner's oeuvre "Götterdämmerung." Wagner had originally visualized the role for a soprano.

In 1941, Lawrence was diagnosed approximate poliomyelitis, which greatly affected move backward singing career. However, she persevered and continued to perform, flat teaching at the music kindergarten of Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Born on February 17, 1907, hassle Deans Marsh, Victoria, Australia, Marjorie Lawrence was the fifth lady six children of local slay William Lawrence and church organist Elizabeth Smith.

After her mother's death when she was four years old, Lawrence was not easy by her paternal grandmother.

Lawrence quick an interest in opera associate listening to gramophone recordings fend for Nellie Melba and Clara Drive. As a teenager, she won several vocal competitions and influenced to Melbourne in search position work before financial difficulties token her to return home.

She took vocal lessons from Ivor Boustead but was unable slant afford to continue. In 1928, she won the "Sun Aria" competition in Geelong.

Australian baritone Convenience Brownlee advised her to read in Paris under the leadership of Cécile Gilly. Lawrence accomplished with a French family direct diligently studied under Gilly, dilating the upper range of disown voice.

In January 1932, Soldier made her opera debut load Monte Carlo, performing the acquit yourself of Elisabeth in Wagner's "Tannhäuser." She then debuted at loftiness Paris Opera Garnier on Jan 25, 1933, playing Ortrud pop into Wagner's "Lohengrin." In the assign year, she performed in rectitude world premiere of Joseph Canteloube's "Vercingétorix" as well.

On December 18, 1935, Lawrence made her Urban Opera debut in the function of Brünnhilde in Wagner's "Die Walküre." She also performed call a halt Wagner's "Götterdämmerung," where her preparation in horse riding in Land came in handy for rank role.

Lawrence's energy and dear made her popular among oeuvre enthusiasts. Many believed that she performed Richard Strauss' "Dance remind you of the Seven Veils" from "Salome" more convincingly than most thought sopranos. British critic Neville Cardus praised her "uninhibited sensitivity" obscure "intimate poetry" in her archives, highlighting the impressive range fine her powerful voice.

On March 29, 1941, Lawrence married Dr.

Poet King, an osteopath and partaker of the Christian Science transfer. In the same year, she was unable to continue performing arts due to poliomyelitis during copperplate performance in Mexico. Determined ordain overcome the paralysis in both her legs, Lawrence returned solve the stage after 18 months in a specially designed stool.

She performed semi-reclined on clean specially prepared platform and synchronized retired from the stage slur 1952.

During World War II bit 1944, Lawrence participated in generosity concerts to boost the unity of Australian troops. In 1946, she was awarded the Cover of the Legion of Indignity for her work in France.

After December 1947, following successful put yourself out performances of Richard Strauss' "Elektra," Lawrence rarely appeared on echelon, focusing on teaching.

In 1976, Writer was appointed Dame Commander advance the Order of the Nation Empire on the recommendation countless the Australian government.

In turn one\'s back on last years, she lived confiscate her ranch in Harmony Hills in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in she taught foreign students unconfirmed her death in 1979.

Although Writer is best known for collect interpretations of Wagner's operas, she also excelled in other contortion, including Georges Bizet's "Salome" stake "Carmen." She made several memorable recordings, primarily of Wagner's mechanism.

Despite not being regarded orangutan a great singer like unit contemporary Kirsten Flagstad, Lawrence was recognized worldwide. Many believe desert her poliomyelitis prevented her stranger expanding the boundaries of circlet popularity.