United States
On January 7, 1955, contralto Marian Anderson became the first Black singer to perform as a soloist at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. She appeared as Ulrica in Verdi’s “Un ballo in maschera,” marking a milestone in American musical and social history. Anderson was already renowned for her 1939 Lincoln Memorial concert after being denied the use of Constitution Hall. Her Met debut reflected gradual progress in opening elite cultural institutions. The performance inspired younger artists and audiences who saw barriers beginning to fall. It remains a landmark moment in the integration of American arts.
