Profile for Philly_Orchestra2

A little off topic. I posted this a few days ago and no one read it, but this Easter marks the 70th anniversary of Marian Anderson's historical concert at the Lincoln Memorial. There's so much history in that (plus a new book), but remember there was a time when an African-American concert singer was a rarity. Besides Ms. Anderson there was Todd Duncan and a host of others, most of them forgotten. How I wish I could have been at that concert. It was just a bit of an opening, but Anderson pave...

This Easter marks the 70th anniversary of Marian Anderson's legendary concert at the Lincoln Memorial. It would be nice if people of all ethnicities would take a moment to reflect on the courage, fortitude and hard work that an African-American woman brought to classical music. Others have followed, others will follow. Perhaps not as many as we would like, but we can only hope. I had the pleasure of working with Ms. Anderson, and she was a beautiful human being. All those in the performing ar...

As a young musician studying in NYC during the 1950s, I was given a free ticket to see PETER PAN with Mary Martin. To be quite frank, I was not overly impressed with Martin--who was too cute--or with Ritchard--who was totally over the top. But I do remember Kathleen Norris as being so fresh, vital and beautiful in the part of Wendy. There was a moment which I will never forget. It's when Martin sings NEVERLAND, and Nolan just sat still, hands folded and looked at her with such mystery and won...