Powers, Marie (1902–1973)

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Powers, Marie (1902–1973)

American contralto. Born June 20, 1902, in Mount Carmel, PA; died Dec 28 (or 29), 1973, in New York, NY; m. Count Luigi Crescenti (died 1938).

First appeared in a Wagnerian cycle at La Scala; had enormous success in Menotti's The Medium (1947), singing 2,341 performances, starring in a film adaptation in Europe and recording it for Decca; other NY appearances include Noye's Fludde, The Old Maid and the Thief, Becket and Menotti's The Consul; could sing 50 operatic roles in 10 languages, favored roles being Dalila, Messalina, and Orpheus; also appeared on radio and tv.

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