Monte Amundsen (January 15, 1930 – December 24, 2011)[1] was an American opera and musical singer who appeared on Broadway in Marc Blitzstein's musical Juno in 1959, which starred Shirley Booth.
Monte Amundsen | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 15, 1930 |
| Died | December 24, 2011 (aged 81) Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, entertainer |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Biography
editComposer Marc Blitzstein was reportedly so delighted with Amundsen that he expanded her role in Juno to include three major songs: I Wish It So, For Love, and My True Heart, as well as a duet with Shirley Booth, The Bird Upon The Tree. The show was not a success, but Amundsen's well-received performance is preserved on the original cast recording. In 1964 she appeared in another ill-fated musical, Cafe Crown, which ran for 30 performances in previews before closing after just three performances after its official opening.[citation needed]
Amundsen also made many appearances at The Muny in St. Louis, including Rosabella in The Most Happy Fella (1969); Marie Esterhazy in Blossom Time (1966); Gretel in Hansel & Gretel (1966); Barbara in Milk and Honey (1964); Anna Belle in Robin Hood (1961); Resi in The Great Waltz (1961) and Gretchen in The Red Mill (1960). In 1958 she made her debut at the New York City Opera as Adele in Die Fledermaus.[2] She also sang several roles with the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera during the 1950s and 1960s.
Personal life
editShe was briefly married to dancer Tommy Rall[3] and later married opera star Giorgio Tozzi in 1967, with whom she had two children, Jennifer and Eric. She was widowed seven months before her own death.[4]
References
edit- ^ United States Social Security Death Index (Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.), 2011.
- ^ Edward Downes (October 20, 1958). "Monte Amundsen Scores In Opera Debut" (PDF). The New York Times.
- ^ John Vacha, The music went 'round and around: the story of Musicarnival, Kent State University Press, 2004, pp. 60-61; ISBN 0-87338-798-8
- ^ Daniel Cariaga. "Tozzi: At Home in a House of Music", Los Angeles Times, May 28, 1985.
Sources
edit- Thomas S. Hischak, The Oxford companion to the American musical: theatre, film, and television, Oxford University Press US, 2008; ISBN 0-19-533533-3
- Arleen Jackson, "Monte Amundsen Favors Theater-in-the-round", Schenectady Gazette, July 31, 1959
- Time Magazine, The Theater: New Musical on Broadway, March 23, 1959
