EVO - The last surviving member of the Trapp Family Singers, has died at the age of 99 at her home inVermont. Maria Von Trapp was one of seven children born to Austrian Naval Captain Georg von Trapp and his first wife.
Her family's fascinating life story inspired a Broadway musical in 1959, The Sound of Music.....And subsequently the 1965 blockbuster movie, starring Dame Julie Andrews, which won an Oscar for Best Picture. The Sound of Music tells of a young woman who leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the seven children of a naval officer widower. Maria -- seen here in footage filmed five years ago -- said it was based loosely on a book by the governess, who became von Trapp's second wife. "It was not quite what we experienced in our life, but I like 'The Sound of Music' very much. I think it's a beautiful story and you can take the children there. There's no violence. And it's only the really happy family that we were. The only thing is my father was different, you know. He was a very loving father. Music was in our house all the time." Maria was portrayed as Louisa in both the musical and movie. After the family arrived in New York, they became popular with concert audiences. They eventually settled in Vermont, where they opened a ski lodge. |
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