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  • Maria Von Trapp: The Last of “The Sound of Music” Children Dies at 99

    Maria von Trapp, the last remaining member of the original seven von Trapp children, died Tuesday night at 99 years old. Maria and her family’s story inspired one of the most famous musicals of all time: The Sound of Music. Her half-brother Johannes confirmed her death on Saturday.

    Maria outlived most of her siblings, which surprised many who knew the von Trapps. Growing up, she suffered from a severe disease and had a weak heart. Her mother, Agathe von Trapp, died from the scarlet fever in 1922. Maria also developed this disease, which resulted in her needing a home tutor. Maria Augusta-Kutschera von Trapp was hired to tutor Maria and her siblings. She eventually married their father, Georg von Trapp.

    Maria von Trapp was the third oldest child of Agathe and Georg, and the second eldest daughter. Her six siblings are Rupert, Agathe, Werner, Hedwig, Johanna, and Martina, and her three half-siblings are Johannes, Eleonore, and Rosemarie. When the family fled the Nazi-occupied Austria, they moved to the United States in 1938.

    Maria Augusta-Kutschera von Trapp introduced the world to the von Trapp family with her book entitled The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. This book inspired two German films along with The Sound of Music. The musical was revived and broadcasted on NBC in 2013; Carrie Underwood starred. Her performance received mixed reviews, and the von Trapp grandchildren controversially expressed dissatisfaction with her taking on the role made famous by Julie Andrews.

    Maria lived her final days in Stowe, Vermont. She never married and spent her life serving as a lay missionary in Papua, New Guinea.

    Her half-brother, and the youngest von Trapp, Johannes, said this upon his sister’s death:

    “Thank you for your thoughts. Maria had a wonderful life and while we will miss her, the memories of her will live on.”

    Many used Twitter to mourn her death and appreciate her legacy.

     

    Image via The Sound of Music, Facebook

  • Von Trapp Family Didn’t Want Carrie Underwood, Either

    Carrie Underwood has taken a lot of hits for her starring role in the television remake of “The Sound Of Music”, and has even gotten death threats. Apparently the public didn’t take too kindly to the “American Idol” alum stepping into Julie Andrews’ shoes. But as it turns out, the real von Trapp family didn’t want her, either.

    “It’s just upsetting that this could potentially be the final broadcast of our story,” said Myles von Trapp Derbyshire, the great grandson of Maria von Trapp. “And although her voice is amazing, she doesn’t have acting experience…. It’s just the overall image, she’s a country star, she won ‘American Idol,’ she’s very public in kind of a tabloid way.”

    The family says they wanted Anne Hathaway to portray Maria, especially after her Oscar-winning turn in “Les Miserables”. Francoise von Trapp, Maria’s granddaughter, blogged about the musical–and the producers’ casting choice–recently, saying that although Underwood is a talented country singer, she just didn’t seem suited to the role.

    “Carrie Underwood as Maria? Seriously?” von Trapp wrote. “I mean, I have nothing against her personally – she’s an extremely talented country singer, but I’m pretty sure my father is repeatedly rolling over in his grave. Since the movie version of SOM won an Academy Award the year I was born, it’s always been easy to identify with Julie Andrews’ portrayal of my grandmother. It’s a little harder to envision Carrie that way. (But I do realize that’s what happens when Hollywood freezes time.) And while the girl can sing (although her voice lacks the Soprano purity of Julie Andrews) can she act? I’d like to know who else was in the running. Personally, I’d have put my money on Ann Hathaway, who in her upcoming role as Fantine in Les Miserable, proves that she can act and sing.”

    Some of the von Trapp family members were loathe to watch Underwood’s version, but Myles von Trapp Derbyshire said he would, if for no other reason than to be educated about it when the inevitable questions come today.