The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-08-20
UNSERE KLEINE PAULINE.
4 ROMANTIC HISTORY. OF THE BER-
LINER'S LUCC1.

Early Days OF the Prima Donna-A
First Engagem munt-Homc Troubles
The Rising Star-She Becomes the Pet
OF meyerbeer-Lucca In the German
War.
In view of the fact that Madame Pauline
Luccs will shortly appear here, the follow
ing sketch of her life may not prove unin-
teresting:
Pauline Lucca first saw the light of day In
the imperial City OF Vienna In The year l842.
The period of her childhood was one oil labor
and privation: Her parents possessed little
property but lost it all in the revolution of
is48, and were compelled to send their only
child to one Of The common elementary
sctools where the advantages were very
limited. She soon developed great taste tor
music, but her parents were too poor 10 OBJ
tain for her competent instruction, and the
only means by which she could even get the
use OF note music was to become The
custodian OF The collection belonging to
the school, It being her duty to gather 1t up
and put II In Its proper place after The ordinary
exercises. This permitted her at least 10 re-
ceive passive Instructions while listening 10
others, Of which she proftsd so well that,
being one day asked Ii she would like to re-
hearse piece, che repeated 1t entirely from
memory Without hesltaling at single passage.
The purity and accuracy VI her execution 10
duced some persons among the audience 10
offer her The means 10 qualify herself Tor
chorus siDger, and afterwards To secure her
place in the choir Of one Of the first churches
OF Vienna. A musical festival OF religious
character soon gaze her an unlocked for op-
porluniy to show her power. Tietiens. then
Inn q Wanna thn1tra ~
soprano part of o mass by Mozart on the occa-
sion. The bells tor the morning service were
ringing and the crowds were fastening TO the
cathedral, when the chorlster was Informed
that sudden indieposition prevented the prima
donna from performing her part. ln de-
spar, he irGnired If any one among The
chorus would venture TO help him out
of his embarrassment, when Lucca arese
unhesltatiDgly out OF the crowd and re-
spondeh. She was accepted, and was success
Ill, and this triumph started her on her daz-
zling career, which was for q season yet 10
pass over thorns. She obtained all engage
ment at the Court Opera with small monthly
stipend, and frequently came home from re-
hearsal or performing tired and hungry. 10
find the drudgery OF the household awaiting
her, Instead Of food and rest. At last relief
came in the form of an engagement at the
provincial town of Omulz, where she ap-
peared in 1859 ss Elvlra in "Ernani." Her
success here brought her call TO Prague,
where she found critical and apprecaliVe
public, and one inclined to lavor her In IN un-
broken series of trlumphs through difficult
round of performances. These brought the
name OF Lucca TO the cara Of Meyerbeer,
who listened with pleasure tO the stories
of her talent in his own ''HuguenOts'
aud prophet" Meyerbeer found his
greatest pleasure In the nurture and en-
couragement OF struggling genius, and came
"a, n ff> I In n
''PropheC." He was 80 delighted with his
new.found Bertha that he began Immediately
to use his influence To have ner 20 10 Berlin.
The opera In this capital was just then In q
critical condition, It's leading members be-
comlpg old and losing their power and popn-
larIty, and rival Italian company carrying
of the public and the palm. The inpressaro
was grall6ed to hear ofa new star, and basten-
ed to Pdgue to Judge for himself. Lncca that
evening played Pamina in the "Magic Flute,"
and between the acts was offered HI engage.
ment IN Berlin, which she accepted. Her trst
appearance ut Lhe Royal Opera, In March,
1861, proved an eVenttul era In the history OF
Lucca and of that famous establishment. she
debuted as Valentino IN the ''Hugucnots," "
and had the most brilliant reception ever ac-
corded 10 young artist. From tire begtning
10 the eud OF the opera she was honored by
rounds OF applause from the entire house.
Lucca aud the Berliners were lovers ut first
sight, and from that period ILL the present
time she has been the darling Of the royal 0p-
cratic boards. She has been as true TO them
as they have been TO her, and her name on the
bills any time during the last ten years has
been enough 10 till the house In every nook
and corner. Nothing has ueen able 10 tempt
her from Berlin permanently. She makes
briet engagements with London and the Rus-
sian capital, In both OF which sht Is adored,
aud where she receives the must distinguished
attention and costly presents, but she returns
to Berlin as her home, aud the denizens OF
that capital OF all classes, from the court to
the common people, speak of her as "Our
Lncca," or "Unsere kleine Pauline" Her
voice is q fresh aud brilliant soprano, running
through the widest range with great equality
aud the most regular shading. aud making IT,
self distinctly heard above the crash oil the
orchestra or the loudest snrglngs OF the che
rus. She is also eminently sympathetic, and
responds to the slightest n,tances OF the
composer, assisting by artlslc mlen and
gesture In the dramatic effect OF the per-
iormance She has undertaken Vast round
of characters, and never falls In any. Among
her favoriles ure Sellka in "L'Airicalue," !"
Leonora In ''Trovatore," Pamlna in che Magic
Flule,n Marie In the "Daugller OF The Reg-
ment" She seems quite as much at home In
comic opera as when portraylnS tha strife OF
passions, and thus she is the mistress OF the
whole operatlc repertoire, and In her varied
characters we find her as Marguerite In
"Funst," the Page in "FigRro," and the Zeri-
mas In 'Don Juan," and ERA Dlavoio." Mry-
eI b .er became much attached lO her from her
very lrst performances In Berlin. and delight
ed TO zee her In the characters Of his own Gre
alton, In the representation OF which ne gave
her many hinLs, always under the seal OF
secrecy, LOT 1t WAS not until the uealh OF the
great maestro that Lncca was ut liberty TO tell
of the deep and careful study thai she had
made under his guidance. A great part of
the ssAfrlcane" was created Hnder her eye, and
The leading character received much oil It's sbad-
Ing with view 10 make her It's model. And In
uccordauce with the express request OF the
compOser, Lucca was the first performer OF
This part in Berlin aud London. Meyeibeer
was Unfortunately fond Of the applause OF Purls,
und was most anxious 10 have Lucca lend her
genius to the presentation of his last work In
Ihat city; but Lucca, like Lind, acceded to his
wishes in all but Lhs-both perslslently refns-
ed TO appear on the French slage. About six
wears ago Lucca married Baron Won Rhaden, q
lieutenant in The Royal Guards. To possess
his chosen bride, liz Was forced 10 give up his
commis sion; for custom forbade him TO h0ld
this and marry u singer OF un acLresa. Bllt
wbec The war broke ont he entered the Ser
vice from patriotic motives as nfhcer OF The
reserves. and Lllcca herself was Known 10 be
Inflamsd with enthusiasm for the German
cau,.. Atthe engagement at Mars-la-Tour he
received a dangerous wound In The head,
which for q Time was considered ID
IaI When The news reached Lucca she
dropped everything and fastened 10 the
| aud