Nan Merriman

Mezzo-soprano Nan (born Katherine-Ann) Merriman was one of America's leading opera singers for two decades following World War II. She studied singing in Los Angeles with Alexis Bassian and Lotte Lehmann. Before she was 20 she was earning money as a singer for film soundtracks. In that capacity, she attracted the attention of Laurence Olivier. When the great British actor put together a touring company (including his wife, Vivian Leigh) to perform Romeo and Juliet around the United States he engaged Merriman to join. Her part was to sing arias by Palestrina and Purcell during...