The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-14
THREE GREAT SOPRANOS
CtLyE. DEyERE-sAPIO AND RUSSELL
FOR THE MAY FESTIVAL.
The Latter an American. Who Will
Sing at the Wagner concert
Ben Davies Re-EnEaged.

Fos the Wagner concert at the Indiana
May festival the directors have engaged
Miss Ella Russell. the American, who has
created such furore in Europe during the
past few years. Miss Russell, after singing
with great success in Italian opera. having
been a prima donna at Covent Garden.
London, under the late Sir Augustus Har-
ris. began the study of Wagnerian roles.
and her success in German opera was pro-
nOunced with her first appearance. She
reached this country last week from Eng
land. to sing the last week with the Met
ropoltan Opera House combination. and
after singing at the Indiana May festival
will return at once TO England, as she has
been engaged as the principal soprano for
the three days Handel festival. in early
June. at the Crystal Palace. London. The
selection of this artist completes the list
of principal soprano sOloists for the May
festival-Calve, Russell and De Vere-Sapio,
the greatest trio of singers ever engaged
for a single musical event in the West.
Nine. Sapio will probably sing the first
night. CaIve the second night while Miss
Russell will close the season with the Wag-
concert Saturday night.
In Miss Russell Americans rejoice in the
triumph of American girl, who, like
Nordica. has fought against great odds for
recognition, and only by her indcmitable
courage. hard work and talent has secured
her place in the front rank of the world 5
leading singers. Her reputation has been
gained in Europe. for she has not been
heard in this country since her career
brought her into general public notice She
studied in her girlhood at the Cleveland
(O) Conservatory, her work attracting the
Oft Of
advice she went TO Paris for further study.
From Paris she went to Milan to become a
pupil of San Giovanni. and before she
reached her majority she made her debut in
Tuscany in III Trovatore. So rapid mas
been her success that she now occupies the
place of Albani in the hearts of the music
loving English people.
leading musical paper, in describing
this famous prima donna recently. said:
This young prfma donna soprano is one
of the few singers whose versatility enables
| her TO sing with equal success in opera,
concert or oratorio For several successive
seasons she was one of the leading prime
dome of the Italian opera at Covent Gar
den London. under the management or Sir
Augustus Harris and succeeded in estab-
fishing herself permanently In the hearts
OF all English opera-goers by her consist
emily artistic and intelligent work. Beyond
this distinction she has further succeeded
during the past few years in having herself
considered the representative soprano sing,
or of oratorio in England. This combined
artistic distinction in one country at one
period stamps Ella Russell unequvocally as
a singer of remarkable artistic range as
much las of acknowledged beauty of
| voice
lin opera Miss Russell has proved her
self a great Wagnerian singer within the
/ past few years. Hitherto she had sung the
! leading roles in Italian opera with unquali-
| fled success. but the superbly dramatic
quality of Miss Russell's voice, united to a
personality of great beauty and command
/ ing dignity. We're sufficient suggestion TO
/ operate managers and herself to induce her
| debut in the mtsic drama. Her success
was immediate and pronounced. In Lohen-
/ grin. 'Tannhauser' and the Flying Dutch
/ the three operas of the Trilogy her success
was equally great. Her voice is rich. large
and even, her manner and phrasing broad,
/ musical and free. and Miss Russell's great
| personal beauty and imposing presence
/ make her ideal figure of dramatic pow
/ er and grace, be it or the operate stage,
the oratorio or the concert platform