Anne Brown was born on August 9, 1912 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA as Anne Wiggins Brown. She was an actress, known for Starlit Days at the Lido (1935), Rhapsody in Blue (1945) and Babes in Toyland (1934). She was married to Thorleif Schjelderup, Florid Howard and Dr. Jacob Petit. She died on March 13, 2009 in Oslo, Norway.
August 9, 1912, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Died
March 13, 2009, Oslo, Norway
Place Of Birth
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Profession
Actress, Soundtrack
Education
Juilliard School, Morgan State University
Awards
Grammy Hall of Fame, Arts Council Norway Honorary Award
Albums
Selections from George Gershwin's Folk Opera Porgy and Bess
Star Sign
Leo
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Quote
1
If I had been born even 20 years later, I might have sung at the Metropolitan Opera. I might have marched for civil rights. I would have been here for that......my life would have been very different. Of course, I would not have met Mr. Gershwin, and that would have been a shame.
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Fact
1
A native of Baltimore, Brown was rejected in her attempt to enroll at the Peabody Institute, a leading conservatory in her hometown. In 1998, she received the George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to American Music from the Peabody Institute.
2
Brown starred in the original production of the folk opera "Porgy and Bess". Gershwin was so impressed with her performance that he changed the original name of the production from "Porgy" to "Porgy and Bess" so Brown would receive equal billing with baritone Todd Duncan. Gershwin even added a reprise of "Summertime" to the opera for Bess to sing (the song is first sung by Clara, wife of the fisherman Jake).
3
Educated at Julliard School of Music in New York. This was also where she heard that George Gershwin was writing an opera on "Porgy". Ten days later she sang for Gershwin and since that she has performed the role more than 600 times around the world.
4
Had to cut her career as a singer short for health reasons, but she did work for several years as a song teacher. Among her students are actress Liv Ullmann. She has also staged several operas in France and Norway.
5
In the autumn of 2001 she was awarded Norway's Council of Cultures Honorary Award.
6
In 1999 she was elected as honorary citizen of Baltimore, the town where she 70 years earlier was refused a music education because of her color.
7
Has said she felt her singing was better received in Europe, also because she mainly sang works by European composers, such as Brahms, Schubert, Schuman and Mahler.
8
Has lived in Oslo, Norway since 1948, after meeting and eventually marrying Norwegian olympic ski-jumper Thorleif Schjelderup.
$1.7 Million
