The New York herald., 1872-09-30

A SongStreSs by Nature and the Fa-
vOrite Pupil Of Meyerbeer.
THE CzAR ASKS THE KAISER FOR HER
Her Triumphs In London, Berlin and St.
Petersbnrg-R Russian Enthusiasm
Literally Displayed Ona
Benefit Night.

Pauline Lucca was born at Vienna, on the Goth
Of April, 1s46 (the year OF the unvelng OF the IA
nous Beethoven statue at Bonn. The habitual
residence during the most productive years of
their lives OF Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven,
Vienna has a fair right to be looked upon as the
anonted queen OF musical cities. Nor among Its
least legitimate claims to distinction In the eyes of
the future art historians s that OF Its having been
the birthplace Of one who all comparisons weighed,
may be justly styled the greatest dramatic singer
OF the actual time.
When scarcely four years OF age Pauline Lucca
was already the owner of voice which attracted
the attention of all musical hearers by its power
and striking individual quality. i vas the
voice oF x M9fe child, Of Course; but there
was a something in 1t apart which, at so
tender an age, seemed alike precocious
and phenomenal Then. in addition to the voice.
she, even thus early, displayed vocal facility
which could be nothing else than natural gift.
Whatever air or piece Of music was sung or played
before her she caught up with the utmost ease, and
would sing the tune execute the passages In a
manner to astonish every one.
On a particular occasion pianist of some noto-
rety happened to call at the house OF the Luccas,
and, finding no one at home, sat down to the
''Streicher'' piano-the most precious ornament of
the drawing rOOm-and consoled himself by play
which Beethoven has constructed five exquisite
variations, at the commencement of his famous
sonata in nat, op. 2e While he was thus
gagged the mistress of the house came into the
room, accompanied by two friends but the pianist,
lost either in admiration Of the music in conCeit
with his own ability, did not observe them,
and continued his performance. Suddenly, how
ever, he was interrupted by the accents of a
voice-a voice, though youthful, full and rich in
tone-singing precisely with the expression he had
given to it, the divine and familiar melody of the
greatest Of composers.
Surprised, and no less enchanted, the cirtaOSO
stopped playing But how much more lie was sur
plised and enchanted when seeing
THE TINY LITTLE sOEGsTREss
who had mimicked him well-''dulce subyi
denS''-tripping into the room, unconscious OF the
sensation she had created, may readily he sur
missed. One Of the friends who had accompanied
the mother OF Pauline 10 the house Herr Bieder
Manu. formerly director OF the viennese Conserva-
tory. Hardly less astonished than the oirt,Oso
himself Herr Bedermann az once turned TO the
mother and said Madam, you have future
treasure in that chid-a great singer and musician
zen herbe'-look after her carefully"
Years after the piquant incident referred to, her
mother, who, with some intimate friends of the
family had observed in Pauline the nascent genius
of paintlng-and foresaw in the young genius rather
future Rosa BOnhenr than future Malibran, was
strongly moved to let this inclination have its
sway, and the more so because the excellent
mother, after her narrow but conscientious way of
thinking, had rooted objection TO 1.-THE stage.n
Nevertheless while, in obedience to this new idea
Pauline took daily lessons in drawing, she also
allowed to go on with her vocal studies; and al
though she she made made won wonderful progress with her
with her singing, TILL in the end, her most sincere
elwishers were forced to the conviction that her
trina Inn tntn
Pauline was allowed to direct her chief attention
to the study OF singing. natural tendency can
never be wholly eXtrpated. SO says, and sings,
the Great Augustan poet:-
-Natura expelas furca tamen usque recurrct.
Her first instructions were obtained in the at
that time celebrated Ecole de Chant, directed
by the well known and highly esteemed Professor
Joseph Ruprecht. she entered this school at the
age Of thirteen and remained there for three years
brated Otto Ufmann, to acquire the art OF declama
ton in particular, and the principles OF dramatic
art generally. With Ufmann Pauline remained from
eight to twelve months, ana, aided by serious and
unremitting application enforced upon her by her
vigorously unninching master, progressed with as
t0nshing rapdity. At the termination Of this Pc
riOd Unmann said to her something equivalent to
what the celebrated maestro, Porpora, said, cen.
tury and half earlier, to his no less celebrated
pupil Caffarieo, after certain period OF similarly
close and legitimate study -
''NOw YOU MAY GO, YOU ARE AN ARTIsT.o
About this time various German directors of
operas informed about the extraordinary promise
OF the young and gifted Pauline had employed
agents to make inquiries about the truth OF it,,
| with view, if report should prove trustworthy
to secure her services The first result was her nc
days, when prima dOnnas, in temporary vogue, can
exact as much as s2oO sterling In London for a
Haag, lnpresd'iO at the theatre at Olmutz. o.
mutZ, the scene OF so many great political events
and political controversies in the history OF Ger
man art, will be equally remembered as the place
where first the remarkable talent OF one Of Ger
manys greatest lyric comedians m 1 was publicly ex-
now the regning prma donna of the day, began
niii,cent salary Of sixty norins monthly
Here she played in tragedy, comedy and even
but her chief irlumphs were achieved in operate
parts, such as Norma, Lucia di Lammermoor,
Amina, Valentine, &c. Az Olm,itz she remained
and having received, during her sojourn, offers
from other parts of Germany on far more liberal
terms both from dramatic managers for the
drama and operate managers for the opera, she
ultimately accepted an engagement proposed by
Herr ahome, manager OF the Deutchessnders m
caytelO," with a salary OF 500 nOrins per month,
already considerable advance upon the liberality
OF Herr HaaR. On her departure from Olmntz for
Prague, such was her popularity with the nhabi-
] tants OF that S small but famous town Pauline was
serenade % and an to- torch r procession. ti'' ~ '"'''''
At Prague her successes were various and bril-
Liant sne began there rev with Valentine II the
beer, who had heard much about the young
dramatic singer, came expressly from Berlin to wit.
was 80 pleased with his unknown Valentine that
after the duet of act four, he begged the manager
to allow him to pay her his ciyilites and was
cordingly introduced by Herr Thome. Once behind
the curtain, seeing his Valentine still on the stage
MEYERBEER RUSHED UP TO HER,
and, to the astopisbment OF Pauline, who did not
know him. kissed her vehementy on both cheeks.
Profuse in thanks and compliments, he assured her
that he had witnessed with rapture portrayal
after his own heart, OF the most cherished creation
that ever came from his "pdhi1e cej9'edu.' --
The day following Meyerbeer called upon Pauline
and offered her an engagement for Berlin at a sal.
ary OF 1000 thaers per month another step con-
slderaoly in advance, the difference ia value be-
tween Prussian thaers and Austrian horns taken
into account. The liberal proposition was at once
accepted, and, delighted with his newly found
treasure, the composer OF the "Huguenots" again
embraced our heroine and returned IN high spirits