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352:. She made a number of excellent recordings, mainly of works by Wagner. She received many good reviews throughout her career. She had a solid career in France, Mexico, Australia and throughout South America, as well as the US. However, she was unable to build a substantial career in other parts of the world due to World War II, when her voice was prime. In 1946 she was awarded the cross of the
109:. She was the fifth of six children of William Lawrence, the local butcher, and Elizabeth (née Smith) Lawrence, church organist. Her mother died when Lawrence was two and she was raised by her father's mother. Lawrence attended local schools, joined the choir at St Pauls Church of England and was a soloist by age ten. Her interest in opera was sparked by
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treatment of muscle stimulation for paralysis in both legs. She returned to the stage 18 months later, performing in a chair, reclining or on a special platform; although hampered by her lack of mobility, she continued to perform until 1952. In 1944, during World War II, she performed in charity
121:. She won a number of vocal competitions when aged in her teens, and at the age of 18 she travelled to Melbourne for work. She received voice lessons from Ivor Boustead but had to return home due to financial hardship. Lawrence failed to gain a place at the
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by riding her horse into the flames as Wagner had intended, the first
Metropolitan Opera soprano to do so. She had been an athletic child and learned to ride in Australia. In this famous performance,
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showing
Lawrence performing Elektra with Rodzinski and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra following her return to performance - the only publicly available film footage of Lawrence performing.
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wrote of the "'unselfconscious pathos' and 'intimate poetry' in her performances, of the 'superb range' of her powerful voice, 'rich in vocal splendour' throughout".
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where she taught international students. She later accepted students from the
University of Arkansas at Little Rock from the late 1970s until her death in 1979.
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365:; by February 1950, Hollywood was interested in making a film and Lawrence indicated "If a film is made I will do the singing". In 1955,
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as
Lawrence; Parker loved opera and learned to sing all of the arias, although her singing was later dubbed in by soprano
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in the
Performing Arts Collection, the Arts Centre, Melbourne (correspondence, photographs, programmes, scrapbooks etc.)
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331:, but Lawrence left the stage, and instead began to work as a teacher. She retired to her ranch, Harmony Hills, in
145:. Lawrence boarded with a French family and, under Gilly's tuition, was able to extend her voice's upper range.
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Although best known for her
Wagnerian interpretations, Lawrence sang a range of other works, including
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Los
Angeles Times, 10 December 2013, Obituary for Eleanor Parker and quote from Paul Clemens, her son.
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concerts to entertain troops in
Australia, seated in a chair. A performance as Amneris in
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During a performance in 1941 in Mexico, Lawrence found herself unable to stand—she had
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Lawrence's physicality and beauty made her popular with audiences – she performed the "
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Lawrence died, aged 71, of heart failure on 13 January 1979 at St
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by riding her horse into the flames as Wagner had intended. She was afflicted by
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On 29 March 1941, at New York City's City Hall, she married Dr. Thomas King, an
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more convincingly than most other sopranos. Just as
Lawrence's great compatriot
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at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Special Collections Research Center
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Lawrence returned to Australia periodically from 1939, where English critic
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was her Siegfried. The performance was recorded and is the only complete
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50:(17 February 1907 – 13 January 1979) was an Australian
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for her work in France. In 1976 she was appointed a Commander of the
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in Paris in 1946 was well received as were concert appearances of
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565:. No. 2180. Western Australia. 5 November 1939. p. 5
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383:. Lawrence criticised the film as being untrue to her life.
167:. On 25 February 1933, she made her first appearance at the
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in 1938, which caused her fellow Australian (by adoption)
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Australian Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
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had been able to alternate the role of BrĂĽnnhilde with
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from 1941. Lawrence later served on the faculty of the
280:. However the film never materialised due to the war.
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In January 1932, Lawrence made her operatic debut in
584:
Vagg, Stephen (10 August 2019). "Unmade Cinesound".
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It's an Honour – Honours – Search Australian Honours
237:, she herself was able to alternate the role with
40:Marjorie Lawrence in 1943, most likely in Montreal
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244:She turned down a small role in the premiere of
727:Southern Illinois University Carbondale faculty
640:(London: Werner Laurie, 1955), pp. 158–159
188:On 18 December 1935, she made her debut at the
742:20th-century Australian women opera singers
600:"Film likely of story of Marjorie Lawrence"
573:– via National Library of Australia.
361:In 1949, Lawrence wrote her autobiography
54:, particularly noted as an interpreter of
737:Australian emigrants to the United States
476:"Lawrence, Marjorie Florence (1907–1979)"
398:In 1946 she was awarded the cross of the
105:, 135 km (84 mi) south west of
79:Her life story was told in the 1955 film
268:In 1939 it was announced she would play
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192:in New York City singing BrĂĽnnhilde in
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732:Recipients of the Legion of Honour
557:"Jack Lester Plans New Perth Show"
481:Australian Dictionary of Biography
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93:for her performance as Lawrence.
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123:Royal South Street competitions
32:Marjorie Lawrence, 12 June 1939
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91:Academy Award for Best Actress
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608:National Library of Australia
512:"LAWRENCE, Marjorie Florence"
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406:on the recommendation of the
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137:in 1928. Australian baritone
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19:For the English actress, see
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171:in Paris, singing Ortrud in
89:, who was nominated for the
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660:Majorie Lawrence Collection
404:Order of the British Empire
369:released the film version,
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490:Melbourne University Press
474:Griffin, Helga M. (1986).
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325:Chicago Symphony Orchestra
323:in December 1947 with the
45:Marjorie Florence Lawrence
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16:Australian soprano singer
358:for her work in France.
217:Dance of the Seven Veils
408:Government of Australia
129:but went on to win the
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520:Australian Government
388:Little Rock, Arkansas
333:Hot Springs, Arkansas
278:Cinesound Productions
101:Lawrence was born at
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643:Lawrence, Marjorie.
562:Sunday Times (Perth)
298:. She undertook the
367:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
289:Christian Scientist
604:The Canberra Times
372:Interrupted Melody
363:Interrupted Melody
190:Metropolitan Opera
111:gramophone records
82:Interrupted Melody
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638:Opera Biographies
610:. 2 February 1950
544:An Exacting Heart
274:The Life of Melba
270:Dame Nellie Melba
256:Hephzibah Menuhin
179:Joseph Canteloube
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492:. pp. 14–15
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400:LĂ©gion d'honneur
355:LĂ©gion d'honneur
276:for Australia's
239:Kirsten Flagstad
231:Florence Austral
206:Lauritz Melchior
157:as Elisabeth in
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115:Nellie Melba
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702:1979 deaths
697:1907 births
375:, starring
195:Die WalkĂĽre
155:Monte Carlo
103:Deans Marsh
691:Categories
569:16 October
414:References
164:Tannhäuser
119:Clara Butt
97:Early life
666:biography
285:osteopath
248:'s opera
174:Lohengrin
107:Melbourne
670:AllMusic
546:, p. 109
131:Sun Aria
127:Ballarat
614:30 June
586:Filmink
525:30 June
496:30 June
394:Honours
320:Elektra
135:Geelong
349:Carmen
340:Salome
226:Salome
149:Career
296:polio
251:Ĺ’dipe
219:" in
66:polio
616:2009
571:2016
527:2009
498:2009
342:and
327:and
310:Aida
287:and
117:and
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