27 Facts About Libertad Lamarque

Libertad Lamarque achieved fame throughout Latin America, and became known as "La Novia de America".

Libertad Lamarque was born in Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina to Gaudencio Lamarque, an Uruguayan of French descent, and a widow of Spanish origin, Josefa Bouza.

Libertad Lamarque was named Libertad because at the time of her birth, her father, an anarchist, was imprisoned and pleading for release.

At the age of 7, Lamarque won first prize in a stage competition, and participated with a group of street singers that made tours of nearby cities.

Libertad Lamarque's debut was in a play called La muchacha de Montmartre by Jose A Saldias, where she sang as part of a trio with Olinda Bozan and Antonia Volpe, to the guitar accompaniment of Rafael Iriarte.

Libertad Lamarque traveled through several provinces of Argentina and through neighboring Paraguay accompanied by three.

Libertad Lamarque capped this cycle by performing Oscar Straus's Tres valses, an adaptation of the operetta, with Chilean singer Choly Mur.

Libertad Lamarque shone in works that were painful and romantic, such as En esta tarde gris, Sombras, nada mas, Tristezas de la calle Corrientes or Caseron de tejas, Cancion desesperada and Sin palabras.

Libertad Lamarque was a light soprano with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A".

Legend has it that Libertad Lamarque left Argentina because she had been blacklisted by its First Lady Eva Peron.

The authors add that Libertad Lamarque traveled freely between Argentina and Mexico during the lifetime of Eva Peron and beyond, which does not support the blacklisting legend.

Libertad Lamarque denied during her lifetime certain aspects of the legend, especially the reports that she had slapped Eva on the set of La cabalgata del circo.

Between January and February 1946, Libertad Lamarque appeared in her first tour of Cuba, which was listed as the artistic event of the season.

Libertad Lamarque performed at Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Santa Clara, Holguin, and Santiago de Cuba; visited hospitals and schools; and her farewell performance at the Municipal Amphitheatre of Havana was said to have been attended by 20,000 fans.

Libertad Lamarque returned to Argentina after Evita's death and was the first person to bring a Spanish version of Hello Dolly to Latin audiences at a 1967 performance at the Teatro Nacional in Buenos Aires, which she later performed in Mexico in 1968 staged by Manolo Fabregas.

Libertad Lamarque wrote the script, which was adapted by Nicolas Carreras under the musical direction of Oscar Cardozo Ocampo.

In 1988, Libertad Lamarque participated in the season at Mar del Plata's Teatro Opera with the musical A todo tango II under the direction of Jose Colangelo.

Libertad Lamarque received an award in 1978 from Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez for her contributions to Latin American culture and in 1980 she shared a Critic's Choice Award with Maria Felix.

Libertad Lamarque was appointed "Illustrious citizen of the city of Buenos Aires" in 1990 and on 15 November 1991, a few days before her birthday, the Municipal Council of Rosario granted her a similar distinction.

Libertad Lamarque was honored in 1993 by Celebrando Magazine, a Spanish-language publication which is nationally distributed in the US, for her 70 years in film, theater and music and her philanthropy.

In 1996 Libertad Lamarque moved to the United States and settled in her Coral Gables home in Miami, Florida.

Libertad Lamarque often flew to Mexico City and Buenos Aires to attend her professional appointments as well.

In 1998 Libertad Lamarque was featured in the soap opera La usurpadora, which was a huge success in Mexico and in many countries in Latin America.

In early December 2000, Libertad Lamarque was rushed to Santa Elena Hospital in Mexico City, after feeling sick and experiencing breathing difficulties.

Libertad Lamarque died aged 92 on 12 December 2000 in Mexico City, Mexico from pneumonia.

In 1926, Libertad Lamarque married Emilio Romero and had a daughter, Mirtha, with him before divorcing in 1945.

Libertad Lamarque attempted to throw herself out of a hotel window, but an awning broke her fall.