Monte Amundsen (January 15, 1930 – December 24, 2011)[1] was an American opera and musical singer who appeared on Broadway in Marc Blitzstein's musical Juno in 1959, which starred Shirley Booth.

Monte Amundsen
Born(1930-01-15)January 15, 1930
DiedDecember 24, 2011(2011-12-24) (aged 81)
Occupation(s)Singer, entertainer
Spouse
(m. 1959, divorced)
(m. 1967; died 2011)
Children2

Biography

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Composer Marc Blitzstein was reportedly so delighted with Amundsen that he expanded her role in Juno to include three major songs: I Wish It So, For Love, and My True Heart, as well as a duet with Shirley Booth, The Bird Upon The Tree. The show was not a success, but Amundsen's well-received performance is preserved on the original cast recording. In 1964 she appeared in another ill-fated musical, Cafe Crown, which ran for 30 performances in previews before closing after just three performances after its official opening.[citation needed]

Amundsen also made many appearances at The Muny in St. Louis, including Rosabella in The Most Happy Fella (1969); Marie Esterhazy in Blossom Time (1966); Gretel in Hansel & Gretel (1966); Barbara in Milk and Honey (1964); Anna Belle in Robin Hood (1961); Resi in The Great Waltz (1961) and Gretchen in The Red Mill (1960). In 1958 she made her debut at the New York City Opera as Adele in Die Fledermaus.[2] She also sang several roles with the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera during the 1950s and 1960s.

Personal life

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She was briefly married to dancer Tommy Rall[3] and later married opera star Giorgio Tozzi in 1967, with whom she had two children, Jennifer and Eric. She was widowed seven months before her own death.[4]

References

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  1. ^ United States Social Security Death Index (Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc.), 2011.
  2. ^ Edward Downes (October 20, 1958). "Monte Amundsen Scores In Opera Debut" (PDF). The New York Times.
  3. ^ John Vacha, The music went 'round and around: the story of Musicarnival, Kent State University Press, 2004, pp. 60-61; ISBN 0-87338-798-8
  4. ^ Daniel Cariaga. "Tozzi: At Home in a House of Music", Los Angeles Times, May 28, 1985.

Sources

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