The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-11-17
Prina Donna.

Illustrated Correspondence Neg North West
The Temperance of Mile. Nilsson in this
coantry Is one of several events which give
| a particular interest to the season Of 1852
SO, now opened. She receives the greetings
of many friends. At every place in which
her gift Of exquisite song shall be employed.
the American public will receive the fair
Swede with their accustomed whoIe-hearted
appreciation.
Christine Nilsson was born al Hussaly,
| near Wexio, Sweden, August }, lS43. Her
| father was a peasant, but musician like
wise. leader Of the choir in the parish church
and performer on the violin. He taught
his son Carl how to play, and Christine
while a child would pick out for herself on
| the instrument the tunes sine heard her
| brother play. In the course of time her
voice and musical intelligence became All
attraction In the neighborhood of her home.
| and Christine was soon heard singing in
country fairs whittier her father had taken
her for the purpose. Thorneibjeim, a
magistrate Of Ljanby, having heard heI
sing, offered 10 provide for her musical
education. She was accordingly placed
under the instructions Of Mile. Valerius
who afterwards became Baroness of Leu
husen. Her removal to Stockholm, where
she studied under Franz Berwald, succeed
ed, from whence she went 10 Paris, in
which city the eminent Wsrtel gave her
three years course Of preparation for hel
appearance as an opera singer. Her debut
was made in October, 1864, at the Theatre
Lyrique, Paris, in verdi's "Traviata." 1t wa:
a success, and she subsequently appeared II
the same theatre in "Don Giovanni" and al
Astrafdmmante in Mozart's "Magic Flute
Her fist appearance in London was in 1867
Ia "Trayiata." Her assumption of hdrguer
lie In Gounod's Faust" took place in tn
English capital little later. Mile. Nilsson
re- appeared In Paris In March 1868, at thu
Grand Opera House, as Ophelid in Ambros
Thomas's Hamlet" Proceeding TO Englan
in the same year she took part in the Hande
Commemoration at the Crystal Palace, Sgd
enham. She sang in concerts only from thi
!, time until the fall of 1871, when she assun
ed the part Of Mgnon IN Thomas's eelebrai
ed opera. Her marriage to Auguste Rou
zana, a merchant Of Paris, took place a
Westminster Abbey, London, in July, ISL:
A few months later she began her career q
triumphs In ST.. Petersburg. During Tn
winter of 1894, Mile. Nilsson sang in til
United 81 ates, where her ESD in "Loher
grin" was hailed as SURPRISING success
Since that time her engagements in sewers
parts of Europe have maintained her reputa
ton as great singer. Her husband died
the year 1882.
!, Mile. Nelson's voice is high soprano
with considerable breadth and remaikabi
frmness of tone. Her academical trainiIi
was of the best, and she sings with perfe'
taste. Notwithstanding all these advar
tages she does not rank with the create:
singers. A competent American critic, jadI
ing from her performances in this countr
on the occasion of her last visit, says of he
as vocalist and performer: "She was ver
gifted and highly finished vocalist of IL
second rank, standing in its fore front. He
performances dramatically always pleased,
they did not satisfy, the most exacting last
aud never offended the most fastidious."