Anne Wiggins Brown, Baltimore native and Gershwin's first Bess, dies at 96
Just got word that Anne Wiggins Brown, who created the role of Bess in Gershwin's groundbreaking opera Porgy and Bess in 1935, died Friday in Norway at the age of 96. As a student at Juilliard, the Baltimore-born soprano sent a letter to Gershwin requesting an audtion and was hired on the spot. She went to enjoy a successful career, especially in Europe.
Here are some reminiscences of Miss Brown that I received via email from her friend and former student, Kitti Homme:
She was a fantastic human being - incredibly intelligent, talented (also a great pianist!), humble, kind -- and a loyal friend. I consider myself very lucky to have known her all these years. And I feel really good about having visited her as recently as in January this year ... Two years ago, at the age of 94, she sat down at the grand piano and played Chopin, Beethoven and Gershwin for us -- for at least half an hour. She kept saying: "I can't play!" But it sounded fabulous to our ears. She was a perfectionist until the end ... She made a huge contribution to American opera. Fresh out of New York's Juilliard School of Music, at the age of 22, when there was hardly any future for African Americans in opera or classical music, she starred as Bess in George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess ... Gershwin was blown away by her when she came to his flat to audition ... After hearing Anne sing works by Brahms, Schubert, and Massenet, Gershwin asked her to sing ...
a spiritual. After hearing her sing "City Called Heaven," Gershwin knew he had found the perfect Bess. From that time until the opera was finished, Anne visited the composer every week, going through the music, singing all the parts -- singing duets with Gershwin or trios with other members of the cast.
Anne and George Gershwin remained close friends until he died an untimely death only two years later. She has a big post card collection and letters he wrote her from his trips and from California ... Gershwin also changed the name of the opera from "Porgy" to "Porgy and Bess" to give her character more prominence ...
Anne went on to touring solo all over Europe, then settling in Norway after she fell in love with a Norwegian Olympic skier, and teaching voice to hundreds of talented singers and actors. She was always active and busy with music and culture, directing operas in Norway and elsewhere in Europe. She loved the Norwegian winters, but also Italy, where she had a summer home ...
In 1998, she participated in the Library of Congress commemoration of George Gershwins' 100th birthday. That year, she also received the George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Music in America by Peabody Institute ...
Comments
Here's one last rose at your feet, Ms Brown. Thanks.
Posted by: Alton Thompson | March 19, 2009 5:09 AM
For those who always complain abount AfroAmericans wanting to know their history, this is a perfect example. We want to know of the contributions and sacrifices that our people have made. There are so many circumstances, big and small that were encumberances to our successes.
Thanks for the tribute to another great AfroAmerican who in spite of great odds became a credit to the human race. And thanks to Mr Gershwin for affording her the opportunity to display her great talent.
GOODNIGHT SWEET PRINCESS
Posted by: V W Chandler | March 20, 2009 1:20 PM