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Marian Anderson and Leonard Bernstein

Portrait Gallery

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Object Details

Artist

Ruth Orkin, 3 Sep 1921 - Jan 1985

Sitter

Leonard Bernstein, 25 Aug 1918 - 14 Oct 1990
Marian Anderson, 27 Feb 1897 - 8 Apr 1993

Exhibition Label

In 1947, Marian Anderson and the conductor, composer, and pianist Leonard Bernstein (1918– 1990) performed for nearly 20,000 spectators at the City University of New York’s Lewisohn Stadium. The photographer Ruth Orkin, who had demonstrated an interest in capturing musicians at work, took multiple photographs of Anderson and Bernstein as they prepared for the concert. Bernstein had recently moved to New York City, where he had become a sensation after substituting for the ailing Bruno Walter as conductor of the New York Philharmonic. Critics celebrated Anderson’s performance, which included both arias and spirituals, and the audience clamored for five encores before she could leave the stage.
En 1947, Marian Anderson y el director de orquesta, compositor y pianista Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990) actuaron ante unos 20,000 espectadores en el Estadio Lewisohn de la Universidad de la Ciudad de Nueva York. La fotógrafa Ruth Orkin, quien se interesaba en captar a los músicos en acción, tomó varias fotografías de Anderson y Bernstein preparándose para el concierto. Bernstein acababa de mudarse a Nueva York, donde había causado sensación tras haber dirigido a la Filarmónica de Nueva York en sustitución de Bruno Walter, que estaba enfermo. Los críticos celebraron la actuación de Anderson, que incluyó tanto arias como espirituales, y el público no la dejó abandonar el escenario antes de cantar cinco encores.

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

Date

1947

Object number

NPG.98.82

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Copyright

© 1947 Ruth Orkin

Type

Photograph

Medium

Gelatin silver print

Dimensions

Image/Sheet: 24.1 x 17.1 cm (9 1/2 x 6 3/4")
Mat: 55.9 x 40.6 cm (22 x 16")

See more items in

National Portrait Gallery Collection

Location

Currently not on view

Data Source

National Portrait Gallery

Topic

Music\Musical instrument\Piano
Exterior
Costume\Jewelry\Ring
Equipment\Sound Devices\Microphone
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Stool
Music\Sheet music
Marian Anderson: Female
Marian Anderson: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician\Singer\Opera singer
Marian Anderson: Arts and Culture\Education and Scholarship\Educator\Teacher\Music
Marian Anderson: Civilian awards\Presidential Medal of Freedom
Marian Anderson: Civilian awards\Congressional Gold Medal
Leonard Bernstein: Male
Leonard Bernstein: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician\Composer
Leonard Bernstein: Arts and Culture\Education and Scholarship\Educator\Professor
Leonard Bernstein: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician\Songwriter
Leonard Bernstein: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician\Pianist
Leonard Bernstein: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician\Conductor
Portrait

Metadata Usage

Usage conditions apply

Link to Original Record

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4cc78afd9-36e1-46d0-9a1e-ac15840b4423

Record ID

npg_NPG.98.82

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1947: A Year in the Collections

Coat Couture

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A colorful poster features Marian Anderson singing in front of an American flag suspended between two columns

Marian Anderson

Capital Connections

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