Frank Lloyd Wright

LAWRENCE TIBBETT

Lawrence Mervil Tibbett (November 16, 1896 - July 15, 1960). Lawrence Tibbett was the lead baritone with the New York Metropolitan Opera from 1923 to 1950. In 1942 Wright wrote a letter to Tibbett who was living at the Savoy Plaza in New York City Wright at the time. He asked the singer to "call upon his daughter" Iovanna who was living in New York at the time.

Letter from Frank Lloyd Wright, January 22 [1942], to baritone Lawrence Tibbett, Savoy Plaza New York City: "You and Jane might like to know that my youngest and very dear daughter Iovanna (age seventeen) has been studying the harp with Grandjenny and lives with Madame Germain Mariani at 45 East 66th for several months. I would like to have her talk music with you and perhaps you and Jane would find her as charming as we all think she is. She is going about just a little, her allowance is small, to musical events-opera occasionally -- she is a Debussy fan and wants to see Peleas and Melisande of course. Will you, or Jane perhaps call her up some time and arrange to see her? And maybe hear her play!"

Letter is available from Abe Books Inventory #604045.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Testimonial Dinner Invitation (1955)and Savoy Plaza letterhead.

To Mr. Lawrence Tibbett. February 10, 1955. In 1954 the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Wright owed $10,000 in back taxes on Taliesin. For years he had argued that Taliesin was primarily a school and therefore tax exempt. He was so mad he threatened to destroy Taliesin and move from the state. Cary Caraway, a former apprentice suggested that Wright’s friends express their appreciation and take up a collection. Mary Lescohier and Helen Groves made it happen. 380 supporters gathered in the Great Hall of the U.W. Memorial Union for a tribute. Wright took the opportunity to display the new Monona Terrace model. At the end of the program, he received a check for $10.000. "Frank Lloyd Wright’s Monona Terrace", p 140.