Share this article Share
Washington, April 1939. Having been refused permission to perform at Constitution Hall because of her skin colour, the celebrated contralto Marian Anderson sang in front of 75,000 people from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The concert went down in history as one of the most groundbreaking in the long struggle for equality in the classical music industry.
Marian Anderson, who performed at La Monnaie in 1956, was not alone. From William Warfiled to Jessye Norman, from Leontyne Price to Grace Bumbry: the history of music abounds in singers who have had to fight racism and discrimination to display their unique talent. How did this Golden Generation view its place in the music world? Who were their illustrious predecessors in the 18th and 19th centuries? And how did they manage to break down the barriers? As you stroll through the La Monnaie theatre, you will discover the inspiring stories behind these personalities and how with their outstanding voices they paved the way for a more inclusive and more diverse opera scene.