Gertrude Lawrence

Gertrude Lawrence was one of Great Britain's brightest theatrical stars during the first half of the 20th century. A lifelong friend and colleague of Noel Coward, Lawrence's forte was sophisticated musical comedy, where she exuded a lively, charismatic stage presence that easily overcame her shortcomings as a singer. She was sometimes criticized for a small vocal range and a tendency to sing flat, but her emotional commitment and flat-out star power earned her the approval of most of the musical legends she worked with (Coward, the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Kurt Weill, Rodgers & Hammerstein, etc.). Her recorded legacy is somewhat limited, as she was most in her element on-stage in theaters or cabarets, but enough documentation exists to bring her talents into focus for modern listeners.

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