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Lawrence, Marjorie Florence (1909 - 1979)

CBE
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Singer and Soprano
Born: 17 February 1909  Dean's Marsh, Victoria, Australia.  Died: 14 January 1979.

Opera singer Marjorie Lawrence contracted poliomyelitis in 1941 and was almost crippled in both legs, but continued to perform using a wheel chair placed on stage. During World War II she entertained the troops and was awarded the cross of the Legion d’ Honneur (1946) by the French government. On 31 December 1976 Marjorie Lawrence was appointed Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for her services to the performing arts.


Career Highlights

Chronology
1928

Winner of the Sun Aria Competition

1932

Performed with the Paris Grand Opera Company as Ortrud in Lohengrin

1932

Debut with Monte Carlo Opera Company as Elisabeth in Tannhauser

1935

Performed with the Metropolitan Opera Company New York as Brunnhilde

1939

Completed a concert tour of Australia, performing at Winchelsea, Victoria first

1941

Contracted poliomyelitis while in Mexico

29 March 1941

Married Dr Thomas King, New York

1942

First public appearance as Venus in Tannhauser at the Metropolitan

1944

Entertained troops in Australia and South West Pacific (50,000 miles wheel concert tour)

1945

Entertained troops in Europe

1960 -

Professor of Voice and Opera Workshop, Southern Illinois University

1971

Opera Theatre Southern Illinois University named for Marjorie Lawrence

 
Sources used to compile this entry: Monash Biographical Dictionary, Who's Who in Australia 1971, Great Australian Women of the 20th Century [CD-Rom], Australian Dictionary of Biography [CD-Rom] and Women Make Australian History: Women in wartime 1914-1918, 1939-1945.
 
Related Entries for Lawrence, Marjorie Florence

Related Corporate Bodies

Related People

  • Kenny, Elizabeth (1880 - 1952)

    Marjorie Lawrence used the treatment developed by Sister Elizabeth Kenny when the former contracted poliomyelitis in 1941

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Published Resources

See also

  • Arnold, John and Morris, Deirdre (eds), Monash Biographical Dictionary of 20th Century Australia, Reed Reference Publishing, Port Melbourne (Vic.), 1994, 568 pp. [ Details... ]
  • Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian Dictionary of Biography CD-ROM Volumes 1-12, Melbourne University Press, Carlton, 1996. [ Details... ]
  • Dugan, Michael and Gunter, Anne, Women Make Australian History : Women in Wartime 1914-1918, 1939-1945, Macmillan, South Melbourne, 1996, 32 pp. [ Details... ]
  • Legge, J S (ed.), Who's who in Australia, 1971, 20 edn, The Herald and Weekly Times, Melbourne, 1971, 1024 pp. [ Details... ]

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Structure based on ISAAR(CPF) - click here for an explanation of the fields.Prepared by: Anne Heywood
Created: 16 October 2002
Modified: 25 January 2007

Published by National Foundation for Australian Women on Australian Women's Archives Project Web Site
Comments, questions, corrections and additions: awap@womenaustralia.info
Prepared by: Acknowledgements
Updated: 19 June 2008
http://womenaustralia.info/biogs/IMP0157b.htm

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