Music: Opera Made Easier

When Marjorie Lawrence left her paralytic's wheelchair last winter to make a seated comeback in Tannhäuser (TIME, Feb. 1), many an operagoer shook his head as he applauded. It was brave business—but where was it leading? For all her good looks and magnificent voice, the soprano simply could not walk. She seemed limited to undemanding roles that could be sung lying down. But in Montreal last week Marjorie Lawrence sang the whole great, exhausting part that Richard Wagner wrote for Isolde.

This was no invalid's gesture—it was one of the finest performances of...

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