Marian Anderson, Beyond the Music: Her Complete Recordings (15-CD BOX SET)

Composers: Various
Artists: Marian Anderson, et al
Number of Discs: 15
Label: Sony Classical
CD Release Date: June 16, 2021

Beyond the Music is a special 15-disc edition celebrating contralto Marian Anderson, the first Black singer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera.

The great voice of “The Lady from Philadelphia,” first discovered by her local neighborhood, took her to global fame on the stages of Europe, Asia, and America. She sang for presidents and kings, was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and with her dignity, courage, and unwavering belief in equal rights, she became an icon in her supportive role for the civil rights movement.

Along with the first-ever complete release of her legendary farewell recital at Constitution Hall in 1964, 72 recordings appear here on CD for the first time, 9 recordings previously unreleased. From her debut in 1924 for the Victor label, to her last LP from 1966, all recordings have been meticulously restored and remastered from the original analog masters using 24 bit/96 kHz technology.

The 228-page coffee-table book is richly illustrated with numerous photos and facsimiles, a new essay by Raymond Arsenault – author of The Sound of Freedom and Freedom Riders – and full discographical notes. It is an homage to the artistic life of a singer “one is privileged to hear only once in a hundred years” (Toscanini) and who left us a legacy of humanity, generosity, talent, and faith.

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