Conversation so far:
What was Emergence?
In November 1954, Price made her recital debut at New York's Town Hall.
How many times did she preform there?
the door to opera opened through television, the NBC Opera Theater series.
In February 1955, she sang Puccini's Tosca for the NBC Opera Theater.
Are there any other interesting aspects about this article?
becoming the first African American to sing a leading role in Italy's greatest opera house.
Did she get an award?
In March 1955, she was auditioned at Carnegie Hall.
Did she sing anywhere else?
She also toured India (1956) and Australia (1957), under the auspices of the U.S.
State Department.

Question: Why did the State Department put her on tour?
Self-contained rewrite: Why did the State Department put Leontyne Price on tour?