I shall never forget being in the audience at a Hootenanny event in New York at which she performed in the 50s. She sang "Johnny i Hardly Knew You!" a powerful anti-war song. I was in my teens at the time, an active member of the AYD (American Youth for Democracy) I sat enchanted at her moving presentation. Her magnificent, loving nature inspired me to honor my own Eastern European Heritage. Now, in my mid-eighties, I reach for her depth of compassion, as I collect money and clothing to send to Poland. The grotesque horror has particularly hit home for me, as my father, Nathan Messner was born in Ptzemetzl, Poland, and my grandparents are buried in the Jewish Cemetery. Having lived through WWll, the sounds of sirens come alive once again from my childhood memories. The wounds have never healed, but Ms.Schlamme's impassioned life force infuses me with courage. She embodies the power of love and I reach for her with abiding gratitude. Thank you for keeping her alive. We need her! @hattitudes1
Martha was a lovely, warm person, and a wonderful teacher. I took a master class with her at Mannes when I was an insecure, budding singer. Her graciousness, encouragement and kindness made an enormous difference. And she treated me like family when I took my mom to see her and Alvin Epstein in a Kurt Weill Cabaret, and told my mother what a lovely voice I had, which meant the world to me. I was, am, terribly sad that she died so young.
Thank-you so much for posting this Frank. I am Martha's goddaughter! I was looking for some video on the Kurt Weill cabaret my mother produced in the 60's with Martha and Will Holt (later she performed it for many years with Alvin Epstein). Martha was as special in person as on stage, and she died much too young and very suddenly. I have almost all her records (on which my mother played the piano) and listen to them often.
Your mother accompanied Martha! What was her name? I have Martha's recordings too - wrote about her in AUFBAU. Please write me at ljlehrman@nassaulibrary.org
Hi Frank...long time, no speak. Fancy finding you here. I saw "Threepenny Opera" at the National Theatre in London last week and was thinking about Martha's association with the 1963 movie production, dubbing the voice for the actress who played Jenny Diver and stumbled across this UA-cam clip. I teach Musical Theatre/song interpretation now at two universities and cite Martha as one of my mentors. She exposed me to Brecht/Weill and Jacques Brel. All the best. --Kerry Prep
I shall never forget being in the audience at a Hootenanny event in New York at which she performed in the 50s. She sang "Johnny i Hardly Knew You!" a powerful anti-war song. I was in my teens at the time, an active member of the AYD (American Youth for Democracy) I sat enchanted at her moving presentation. Her magnificent, loving nature inspired me to honor my own Eastern European Heritage. Now, in my mid-eighties, I reach for her depth of compassion, as I collect money and clothing to send to Poland. The grotesque horror has particularly hit home for me, as my father, Nathan Messner was born in Ptzemetzl, Poland, and my grandparents are buried in the Jewish Cemetery. Having lived through WWll, the sounds of sirens come alive once again from my childhood memories. The wounds have never healed, but Ms.Schlamme's impassioned life force infuses me with courage. She embodies the power of love and I reach for her with abiding gratitude. Thank you for keeping her alive. We need her! @hattitudes1
she and theodore bilkel oh my youth
This is so beautiful! Thank you Frank!
Martha was a lovely, warm person, and a wonderful teacher. I took a master class with her at Mannes when I was an insecure, budding singer. Her graciousness, encouragement and kindness made an enormous difference. And she treated me like family when I took my mom to see her and Alvin Epstein in a Kurt Weill Cabaret, and told my mother what a lovely voice I had, which meant the world to me.
I was, am, terribly sad that she died so young.
Ms. Schlamme was a true light in this world.
She does a very good Irish accent. I figured it's because she grew up in London. I will never forget her.
She is brilliant, wonderful. I worked with her at the Ash Grove in Los Angeles in about 1961. Can you believe the very passable Irish accent?
Thank-you so much for posting this Frank. I am Martha's goddaughter! I was looking for some video on the Kurt Weill cabaret my mother produced in the 60's with Martha and Will Holt (later she performed it for many years with Alvin Epstein). Martha was as special in person as on stage, and she died much too young and very suddenly. I have almost all her records (on which my mother played the piano) and listen to them often.
Your mother accompanied Martha! What was her name? I have Martha's recordings too - wrote about her in AUFBAU. Please write me at ljlehrman@nassaulibrary.org
Hi Frank...long time, no speak. Fancy finding you here. I saw "Threepenny Opera" at the National Theatre in London last week and was thinking about Martha's association with the 1963 movie production, dubbing the voice for the actress who played Jenny Diver and stumbled across this UA-cam clip. I teach Musical Theatre/song interpretation now at two universities and cite Martha as one of my mentors. She exposed me to Brecht/Weill and Jacques Brel. All the best.
--Kerry Prep
Such a thin audience. She deserved more.
I loved her singing, but sadly I never had the opportunity to meet her.
You can "meet" her, as I do through You Tube. She remains as alive and inspiring as ever.
hermosa actris
Julia - You are most welcome! I am not aware of any video but I bought the K V Cabaret album on iTunes.
Who is the (uncredited?) pianist on this video?
I feel pretty, Westsidestory Bernstein