From the Convent to the Stage and then to the Silver Screen

The incredible, yet true story of Maria von Trapp.

How it All Began

Maria von Trapp (1905 - 1987), born in Vienna, certainly didn’t know that she would live a life that would inspire a beloved musical and romantic film. She was born Maria Kutschera and at the age of 19, after completing her teaching studies, she entered a convent in Salzburg, intending to become a nun. When she was asked to teach one of the daughters of widower George von Trapp (1880 - 1947), a former submarine captain, she accepted the offer and soon began caring for his six remaining children.

A Girl who, Instead of Becoming a nun, Became a Mother and a Noblewoman

Due to her excellent **care of the children, the 25-year-older Captain von Trapp eventually proposed to her, which she hesitantly accepted. However, as she later admitted in her autobiography, she wasn’t initially happy in the marriage but eventually learned to love her husband. The couple got married on November 26, 1927

The Beginning of Performing and Emigration

The family suffered a significant financial loss, but after the singer Lotte Lehmann (1888 - 1976) heard family sing, she suggested they start performing. The family found success, but due to the political situation, they decided to emigrate from Austria to the United States. There, they performed under the name “Trapp Family Singers.” In 1947, George von Trapp passed away, but the family continued to perform.

It all started with a book

When Maria von Trapp published her autobiographical book “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers” in 1949, it became a best-seller, leading to the production of two German-Austrian films based on it. It also inspired the musical “The Sound of Music” (1959) by Rodgers and Hammerstein. It was so successful that a film adaptation was made in 1965, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, which won a total of five Oscars.

Despite many years passing since its release, the film remains immensely popular. Oprah Winfrey dedicated a special episode of her show to it, where she met with its actors, and Saturday Night Live aired a humorous parody. The story of Maria von Trapp, who passed away on March 28, 1987,continues to live on in various adaptations.