Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-09-26
THE NEW PRIMA DONNA.
Arrival of Mile. HeiIbrOn-HOw
She sings.


Boston Posts New York letter.
The arrival here of Mile. Heilbron,
the new prma donna, whom Max Stra-
kosch will introduce to the American
public in Italian opera next week, occa-
sions very perceptble hutter among
the lovers of music in the metropolis.
Mile. Heilbron has been one of the most
fortunate of singers since she first sung
in public. Though young in years, in
most parts of the Old World she has
won brilliant reputation already. The
strange phenomena on of the arrival of
prima donna on these shores without
heralding is witnessed almost for the
first time in her case. Mile. Heilbron's
name and fame are alike almost total
strangers to the opera-goers of this coun-
try Yet in Europe she is highly es
teemed as worthy place beside either
Nilsson or Lucca. On board the Scotia,
which brought here a remarkable COM
pany of passengers, she readily became
a general favorite, and was overwhelmed
with many kindnesses from entire stran-
gers. Mile. Heilbron's s manner and ap-
pearance are Immediately attractive.
While differing materially from either
Nilsson or Lucca in general appearance,
in some respects she is much like both.
She is smaller in stature than Nilsson.
She lacks her courtly dignity, but in
stead bears most modest reserve, and
an utter simplicity of manner particu.
larly noticeable. She is a brunette,
shade or two lighter than Lucca, with
brilliant black eyes that sparkle with
animation when she talks. Mile. He'll
bron speaks no English but speaks
French with much huency. She speaks
Of her musical studies freely. She is
native of Brussels, in Belgium, where
her parents reside. Twelve years ago,
when she was but ten years of age, her
father, who was an amateur musician,
observed her youthful talent as a singer,
and was advised to have her voice de-
veloped. At that time there existed as
now, the Royal Conservatory in Brus-
sells, which forbade the entrance of pu-
pills applying for admission under six.
teen years of age, and at the required
age only after examination. When she
was twelve years of age, Mile. He'll
bron's voice had made such progress
that she successfully passed the exam
ination for admission, and attracted so
much attention from the examiners
that she was permitted to enter as
pupil, Notwithstanding the bar
of her extreme youth. At the end
of the first year she was awarded the
highest prize for singing and piano
playing. The king was present at her
second years examination, and so
pleased was he with her rich voice and
its trained powers that he advised her
father to send her 10 Paris to study
under Duprez, the famous French tenor
She made her debut at the Opera Com
iuue in thej winter of 1869, when she
won complete success. Content with
this opening success in Paris, she re-
sponded to call to sing in the royal
theaters in The Hague and Amsterdam,
in Holland, where she sung before the
queen, who sent her a magnificent
diamond necklace, accompanied with a
beautiful letter of appreciation and con-
graduation. At the close of that season
she went to Italy to study, and, imme-
diately on her return to Paris, she sung
in a soiree where Maurice Strakosch,
the director of the Italian opera
in Paris, recognizing her as an
artistic of great ability, secured her un-
der his management to open an Italian
opera, and early in the winter season Of
1873 she made her debut in =" La Travi-
ata." Speaking of Mile Heilbron S tai
ents as an opera singer, an authority
says that she will surprise the public,
being a comparatively unknown artistic.
She sings light, airy opera equally as
well as heavy opera, being very success
full in both. She is high soprano and
has a style which is said to be graceful
and artistic. For prima donna Of such
vocal ability she is extremely young, but
her voice is said to have the power and
wealth of one much older in years. She
will open on the 2sth as Violetta Valery,
in I" La Traviata, and will follow during
the season in other Selkknown roles.