American Ballet Theatre’s The Four Marys and Louise Parker

Louise Parker, an operatic contralto by trade, was selected to sing the part of the Narrator in American Ballet Theatre’s production of The Four Marys, singing stanzas crafted by Trude Rittman throughout the performance, usually to advance the plot of the show. Parker’s performance, heavily inspired by the Scottish source material, was given particular praise by The New York Times.

 

More about Louise Parker

Born in Philadelphia in July 1926, Louise Parker was the first Black graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music in 1950 and proceeded to have a successful career singing with the New York City Opera and the New York Philharmonic. She additionally served as a lecturer at Temple University, Western Connecticut State College in Danbury and the Jenkintown Music School.

Parker passed away due to respiratory failure in 1986.

 

Sources:

Ballet: ‘The Four Marys’, The New York Times
Louise Parker Obituary, The New York Times
Louise Parker, Wikidata

 

Ryan Crants