The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-08
OF NORDICA AND LlNDE.
SOMETHING dBOUT the SINGERS
VINO WIZ M ~ . RE 1JLsDIi.
How the Former Arose from "a Boston shop
Girl To Her Present Position.
The other Attractions

II is perhaps not generally known mat
Madame Lillian Nordica was once
shop girl In Boston. and. being tco poor
TO rent piano. did hor hrst practcins
with the aid of a pitch pipe presented
TO her by her teacher.
As has been frequently stated In PRINT
she was a native Of the State OF Name
IAllian Norton. by name. ana giaha-
oaueh,er OF campaigning John Aiien'
Of that State II was while standing III
a store Ia Boston that the tide ia hei
Affairs came. which. BENG taken al the
nocd. leu on TO fortune. she was IN
the habit OF singing softly 10 herself OF
an evening. after the store was eioseu
and she was arranging ner s'oeh io' '"0
night. .t.
IL was on one such occasion as TINS
that a late purchaser. VINO happened 10
De an apostle OF Voice culture Ac"tu Hoi
singing and realizing that she had "A ~
f.re before her. offered to give htf res
sons for nothing. She accepted tue oHel
aud studied under him Tor TWO years
nracficinc with her pitch pipe during hei
meal hours. at the end OF which Tune
she was able TO appear In concert al
which She earned enough money IL pay
for the rent OF a piano.
After three years more OF nara STUD!
she sailed for Europe. studied thefe toi
Two years. and returning maze hcI H's'
appearance in Boston. But. possibly ne
cause as yet she lacked the stamp OF
foreign approval she narrowly cse"peu
l.ino hissed of the stage in her old hoipe
tsfttlL
New York. but being herself dissatisfied
with her work. she went back to Europe.
where she studied the leading soprano
roles In the standard operas, anu taxing
a new name. soon began TO make a Icpu-
tatiCn for herself.
Her success at Baysenth put the "Hlsh'
ing upon her as n singer OF renown' one
was the first American prima donna 10
appear in those celebrated performances
and she was the first singer Of any ma
rionality 10 elicit in that holy Of holies
a pubic demonstration Of enthusiasm
FIRST GREAT TRIUMPH.
II must be borne in mind. in this cen.
necfion. that the best artists Of the woilc
mad sung there and that thcy had been
rewarded with any amount of silent ad
,,,iratlon. and the highest encOmiums tndi
the press could bestOw; but n public
singer was. up TO this time, considered
out OF kc.p.us with the religious awe thai
was inspired by these Unparalleled inter
pretations. ON the occasion when
Madame Nordica appeared as Elsa IN
Lohengrin, a number of persons IN the
audience were so moved by the supurD
manner in which she led the immense
chorus and orchestra Though the great
finale + the first act, that score O
more OF them rose 10 their feet. and cries
Of bravo were heard In different parts
Of the house This uuprt, edented pfo
ceedine drew Kisses from those who were
less inc ined 10 give way 10 their feel
incs The effect was only 10 incieas'
the applause until the cheering sWe lee
into s1nlething approaching an ovation
This was Madame Nordica's first great
triumph. and when she returned 10 New
York 10 sing at the METROPOLITAN ODefa-
House with the De Reskes. Media. EameS
Calve and Scalchi she was rapturously
received. both there and in Boston. The
spring ard sur.mer Of "a she spen'
abroad. studying the leading soprano role
in Waenerian drama, but especially lha'
q Isolde IN which she was coacned 10y
Madame Wagner herself, living IN La
cerne and putting i'm five hours "a day OF
hard study upon the one 70 e.
was abundantly shown In her work last
winter in New York when she sang III
NVagnerian opera with all Of the Creates
foreign singers that American managers
were able to secure Here she made
name for herself az Isolde and repeated
her triumph I'm Lchengrin which hroush'
her American audience TO such pitch oi
enthusiasm that they presented her WIZ
a magnificent diamond tiara during per
formance Of that opera
Madame Nordica &c row the wife OF
Herr Zoltan r. Doime. whom she marrlec
i'm indianapolis last spri0s. she VIII oe
heard through the south for the ht-t
time in the series OF concerts to be given
by the Metropolitan Concert Company
here this winter.
MADAME LiNDE.
Madame Rosa Linde. who VIII appear al
the Academy OF Music next
with Maoam Nordica, Is possessed Oh
voice of wonderful range, extending over
three ovtaves. from { to &, ana even ana
uerfect tones throughout In sinsins
her change of registers Is so skiilluIN
disguised as 20 be indistinghl7haDl'' ana
her breadth and power enable htI 10 90
ample Justice 10 great oratcr4o an" 'i"-
n. 'fc roles In ruDs and 1Oid passages
facility and pure inton8iiOn cAaIac'tilAc
her WORK. and high tones are rendered
as smootply and sweetly as those d
soprano. Unlike most contfalto voices
OF great depth, there is nothing coarse OF
throaty In her lower tones. but. quite on
the contrary. there is the same pleasing
quality that is present 10 so great de
gree In her ,Eher notes. The richness
and purity and power OF her lower regis
ter are rarely cqualled. and her general
execution Of dricult passages IS wonder
fll for a contralto singer A fine must
clan. Nine Tinde. Is free from imperiec-
lions commonly noted, such "a faulty
time and enunclation, and in the latter
she Is especially proficient. No matter
how large the hall each syllable may be
distinctly heard In every part OF it.
one OF the greatest charms of Nine.
Iindes singing Is the admirable balance
81 her tones, the high notes being given
with the same ease and sweetness as
those OF the lower register, and the low
notes being sung with the clearness and
ringing quality OF the high tones. An
other charm which cannot pass unnouced
e. tho easy naturalness OF her tone pro-
auction and the absence OF grimace or
facial contortlon. This fact IS soon i'm
messed upon an audience and carries with
II the assurance that whatever she may
attempt will be thoroughly and well
done. and with no apprehension OF a
break TO mar the pleasure OF the rendl-
tion.
A part OF Nine Lindo's great success Is
due 10 her charming stage presence
which captivatcs an audience al once
and she retains this interest by her read
mess TO oblige as well as meeting fully