Marni Nixon R.I.P.

[Bryn]

Marni Nixon, one of the world's most versatile sopranos, probably best know for her film voice dubbing, but also the woman who gave the first American performance of Boulez's Le Marteau sans maitre, and sang many of the songs on Robert Craft's mono Webern set in the 1950s, has died after a long battle with breast cancer.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

- a unique, unmistakable timbre to her voice: brought out the lyrical beauty of Webern and Stravinsky as well as Ives. Probably the most famous voice of a little-known singer. RIP and many thanks, Marni Nixon.

[pastoralguy]

[Stanfordian]

One teriffic singer!

[Bryn]

Radio 3 broadcast a profile programme on her around a decade ago. Perhaps they will dig it out and maybe even update and re-broadcast it in tribute.

[doversoul1]

Some of the best musical films wouldn’t have been as great as they were without her voice. RIP

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

[richardfinegold]

Did she sing Natalie Wood's songs in the movie version of West Side Story?

[Bryn]

Did she sing Natalie Wood's songs in the movie version of West Side Story?

Indeed she did, and many of Marylin Monroe's high notes.

[Richard Tarleton]

Indeed she did, and many of Marylin Monroe's high notes.

And Deborah Kerr's (King & I), and Audrey Hepburn's (My Fair Lady)....excellent piece earlier on how she worked with the various actresses, and how you can't see the join between where they leave off and she begins....

[Stanley Stewart]

Did she sing Natalie Wood's songs in the movie version of West Side Story?

She did indeed, richard. Only a few weeks ago, I did an off-air DVD recording, Secret Voices of Hollywood, (89mins) which, of course, included interviews with Marni Nixon covering her extraordinary career dubbing for Audrey Hepburn, (My Fair Lady), Deborah Kerr, (The King & I), and Natalie Wood, (West Side Story). We also had an opportunity to see her as one of the nuns in The Sound of Music! She deserved wider recognition in her own right.
RIP, Marni Nixon.

[EdgeleyRob]

I have vague memories of an LP including Bachianas Brasileiras or my mind is playing tricks.

RIP

[Bryn]

I have vague memories of an LP including Bachianas Brasileiras or my mind is playing tricks.

RIP

[Bryn]

and:

[Tetrachord]

And Deborah Kerr's (King & I), and Audrey Hepburn's (My Fair Lady)....excellent piece earlier on how she worked with the various actresses, and how you can't see the join between where they leave off and she begins....

Yes, there was real artistry in her voice and in the system which provided that seamless transition between acting and singing. I only noticed that it jarred a couple of times in "My Fair Lady" because Nixon was American and Hepburn had that strange cockney accent.