Gertrude Lawrence
Gertrude Lawrence (1898-1952) was a musical stage star–singer and actress. She was born in London. In 1923, she was introduced to American audiences when she became the first British female performer to star in a Broadway show. It was a musical review by Noel Coward called “London Calling.” Subsequently she was featured in two Gershwin shows including “Lady in the Dark.” The NY Times review called her “a goddess.” In 1951 she won the lead in the original cast of the” King and I” for which she won a Tony for “best actress.”
In 1933, she starred in a Cole Porter show called “Nymph Errant.” Wickipedia says, “The somewhat controversial story concerned a young English lady intent upon losing her virginity. Porter considered the score his best because of its worldliness and sexual sophistication. The musical was produced in London in 1933 and received its US premiere in 1982.”
Today, I heard this Cole Porter song, “How Could We be Wrong?” by Gertrude Lawrence from “Nymph Errant” on the radio. I thought it was beautiful, and the host agreed, although he commented that the song sort of vanished over the years.
This is Gertrude Lawrence, but Maude Maggart has a current recording. —Paul Goldfinger
Reblogged this on Blogfinger and commented:
This lovely but largely unknown Cole Porter song was posted on Blogfinger in 2012. It’s time to hear Gertrude Lawrence perform it again. Enjoy! —-PG
Regarding Ogrover’s comment, Wikipedia tells the story this way, “Lawrence wanted Cole Porter to write the score, but when he proved to be unenthused by the suggestion, Holtzmann sent the book to Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Rodgers initially demurred because he felt Lawrence’s vocal range was limited and she had a tendency to sing flat. But he realized the story had strong potential, and the two men agreed to write what ultimately became The King and I.”
I guess Richard Rogers wasn’t so enchanted by the “Broadway-West End diva.” But really, who wants a leading lady who sings flat? Today recording studios can electronically correct a singer’s pitch, but it can’t be done on the stage. On the other hand, singing a little flat can be a little charming, and most people wouldn’t notice it anyhow. PG
To say she ‘won’ the lead in “The King and I” isn’t quite accurate; it was written for her! Stars of her magnitude often had the best material composed ‘just for them’ by the greatest songwriters. She was the epitome of the beloved Broadway-West End diva for nearly 3 decades.