The record-union., 1891-08-17
STBIL SANDBRSON.
Some Interesting Facts About the
Famous operate Singer.
Her Debut Was Made in Brussels-For
100 Nights She Played ''Esclar-
monde'' With Great Success.

In the summer Of 1888 the habitues Of
Viau's restaurant so well known to
Americans who visit Paris, were much
exercised over the identity of a remarka-
bly, handsome young girl who frequently
dined there in the company of Jules Mas
senet, the composer, and a middle-aged
lady, who was evidently her mother,
says the illustrated american.
The younger lady was small, with
well rounded figure. She was probably
about twenty, perhaps year or two
more. She had perfectly shaped oval
face and great, heavy, velvet brown eyes,
which were full of expression. Her head
was covered with mass of dark brown
hair. Her complexion was beautifully
clear.
Her vivacious manner and great glow
OF animal spirits, as well as her great
beauty, always attracted attention.
Who was she?
Every one wanted to know, and
although plenty of Americans dined at
the restaurant, no one could answer.
Viau shrugged his shoulders when
asked the question. He supposed she was
q pupil of NJ. Massenet, the great com
poser. Good-natured, plump Madam
Leon and Soustene, the walters, were
certain they could find out, and got pour
boireS on the strength of the information
they were going to supply. But they
failed to earn them honestly.
At last, the cat was out Of the bag.
Massenet happened one evening, as he
was leaving Niau's, to meet the dramatic
critic of the New York Herald. To him
the master cOntided that be had discOv
cred a most marvellous singer, q second
Patti, and that he was training her Won
derful voice and was engaged in writing
an opera for her.
Her name was Sybil Sanderson and she
hailed from California.
On the 10th Of May, 1889, Miss Sander
son made her first how to the Partisan
public at the Opera Comique in the opera
"Esclarmonde," which NJ. Massenet had
written expressly for her.
1t was. brilliant debut, and Miss
Sanderson, in the third act, brought down
the house with a sensational cadenza
which was the talk Of the boulevards for
weeks after.
Esclafmonde, the heroine, which part
the fair Californian played, is not seen,
bat is heard announcing @her coming to
her knight. Roland She took the
caaenza in G in alto, held it, and then
scaled down TO L fiat.
This brilliant demonstration Of the pos
sibilities of the human voice electrified
the audience, but most of the French
critics feared that by thus forcing her
upper notes, beautiful though they
were, she might impair her middle reg
lister.
For 100 nights she played Esclarmonde
with great success sBut she did not prove
herselfa secOT Patti-only one Of many
brilliant sopranos this country has sup
piled to the world.
Miss Sanderson was born in Sacra-
Inento, Cal, about twenty years ago.
She Is the eldest daughter of the late
Judge s. w. Sanderson, who was Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court Of the
State
When only child of she began
covering all the paper she could lay
hands on with mysterious scrawls which
she gravely assured her parents were
musical compositions. Then she dis
coYered she had voice, and her father
and mother, having more faith in this
than her musical pieces, had 1t carefully
trained.
Mrs. Sanderson took her daughter to
Paris in 1884 and placed her in the Con-
servatOire, where she remained for year,
and then returned to Sacramento with
her mother. A year later the whole
family, with the exception of the Judge,
took up their residence in Paris, but were
called back in June, 1886. Miss Sander
son subsequently returned to Paris,
where she became the faVOrite pupil of
MasScnet. Her debut was made in Am
sterdam on February 6, 1888, as Manon,
in the opera of that name, and it was eX-
aotly a year from that day that she sang
Esclarmonde for the hundredth time.
A curious thing happened in connec-
ton with the first production OF "Esclar-
monde" For some reason it was first
performed two days later than originally
announced. But on the morning after
the night il was announced, some papers
lon lp
dispatches announcing its successful pro-
duction. and going into ccstasies over
Miss SandeTson's voice. The fact was
that an American connected with the
press in Paris had written this account
weeks before the first night of its per-
formance, sent it by mail to the different
papers, and quite forgot TO notify them
that the production had been postponed.
Miss SandersOn made her debut in
Brussels on November s, 1880. She ap-
peared in Massenet's "Mignon," and
achieved great triumph, the Queen of
the BelgiaGs being among the audience.
OF course Miss Sanderson did not es-
cape the attacks of the Partisan para
graphist. Articles appeared in some of
the papers announcing that the late
Prince BaudOin of Belgium was madly
in love with her, and while calling on her
had met her ducal protector. A row en-
sued, in which the Duke was seriously
wounded. The whole story was a foul
calumny. The Duke was a myth, and
Miss SauderSon did not even know the
Prince by sight Legal proceedings were
threatened against the offending papers,
and the editors published full denials and
made ample apologies The story was
reported in another form in London pa
per, but a threatened suit soon brought q
Tctraction.
Miss Sandcrson made her operatic
debut in London this season. The critics
did not quite indorse the opinions of their
Partisan contreres.
suFr-r,T,,