Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-02-07
Pauline Luccc.


: and whose melodious tongues have mad
thousands of auditors feel the witchinl
influence of the cart divine" the Bar
, oness Won Rhaden, or as she is general,
) known, Signora Pauline Lucca, ha
taken a most conspicuous place. Al
Austrian by birth, she came to asser
the claims of her native land to aesthetic
consideration, although northern stars
had fascinated us with their brilliancy
and our own land has recently produced
musicians and prima donnas of exalted
talent. Beautiful in person, accom-
plished as an actress, entirely at home
in the most difficult of operate imper-
sonations, and possessing voice unsur-
passed in quality by any known public
singer, it is not strange that Madame
Lucca has commanded the admeration
of Europe, and her appearances here
are triumphs.
Her parents were people in moderate
circumstances, so that it is by dint of
personal effort, sustained by her musical
genius, that she has advanced to her
present position. Vienna is her native
city, and in its musical atmosphere her
youthful genius was nurtured. Here in
her fifteenth year, she sang among the
chorus in the Karnthnnerthon Theater,
in this manner helping to support the
family. Her highest ambition at that
time pointed to position in the ballet ;
hut events directed her course in more
fortunate sphere. On the failure of
distinguished prima donna to fill an en-
gagement to sing at High Mass on a
grand occasion, the organist, in despair,
substituted the beautiful voice of Pau
line as the only atonement to the disap-
pointed audience. Her wonderful natu-
raj power and talent were universally
remarked, and this was the first flush of
success which determined her to a tho
rough course of study for the lyric stage
She married the Baron Won Rhaden, a
Prussian Lieutenant, in 1868.
Her singing is spontaneous and natu-
raj. She has herself related some cpl
sodes of her childish days which indi-
cate the Unborn talent. When but nine
years old she was sent to boarding
school; but being poor, she could not
take the lessons in singing, for which an
extra charge was made. She was, how
ever, present while they were given, to
hold the music for others.
Apparently no care was taken to give
her instruction in any branches, and when
the time came for the yearly examina-
ton she had no idea any questions would
be put to her. 1t so happened, however,
that she was questioned in some study,
and, of course, failed. Looking up she
saw her mother gazing reproachfnlly at
her with fearful eyes. Suddenly the
young Pauline resolved to atone for her
failure. 81 will sing" she said to her.
self; and when the music class was call
ed she rose with the others, not observing
the angry glances of the school mistress,
who rather than make a disturbance,
said nothing. The others each sang
their special piece.
:" And what can you sing ?" asked the
examiner, suddenly turning to the silent
child.
" Anything" was the reply.
Indeed-well, sing the last song
Pauline sang it, caught sight of her
mother smiling through her tears, and
stepping forward, begged permission to
sing something else. She sang the Z" Ave
Maria y how, she does not know; only
when she had finished she felt the breath
Of pair of lips and warm drops on her
forehead, and the examiner said: "My
dear, you have sung like little angel"
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