Page "Marian Anderson" Paragraph 24

On January 7, 1955, Anderson became the first African-American to perform with the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

On that occasion, she sang the part of Ulrica in Giuseppe Verdi's Un ballo in maschera ( opposite Zinka Milanov, then Herva Nelli, as Amelia ) at the invitation of director Sir Rudolf Bing.

Anderson said later about the evening, " The curtain rose on the second scene and I was there on stage, mixing the witch's brew.

I trembled, and when the audience applauded and applauded before I could sing a note, I felt myself tightening into a knot.

" Although she never appeared with the company again after this production, Anderson was named a permanent member of the Metropolitan Opera company.

The following year she published her autobiography, My Lord, What a Morning, which became a bestseller.