The Portland daily press., 1897-10-19


heard, among the dispensing members at
the afternoon rehearsal.
THE PRINCIPALS.
Sketches of Those Who Have Prominent
Parts in the Festival.
Nine. Nordica, Names charming song
bird was born in Pennington. When she
was two years old her parents moved TO
Boston. At an early age she showed a
great talent for music which she lnherit-
ed both from her father and her mother.
She commenced the study of the voice
with Prof. John O'Neil, in Boston, when
she was Is years old, and continued I'M
der his tuition until she went to Europe
where she studied with San Giovanni, in
Milan, who gave her her stage name Of
"Giqlia Nordioa," the Italian for north
ern lily Under his teaching she pre-
pared herself Immediately for the opera,
and made her debut the following year,
at Brescia, as Violetta in the opera Of
Trayiata. Ter first engagement Of i'm
portanoe was at st. Petersburg, where
she sang for two seasons. Going from
there to Paris she made her debut as
Marguerite in Faust, in French, at the
Grand Opera House. After staying there
for several months she married Mr.. Fred
erick A. Cover and retired from the
stage soon after. After Mr.. Covers death
in 1884, she appeared again. in opera ut
Covent Garden, London, and in all the
principal opera houses Of Europe and
America. Up to this time she had con-
fined herself wholly to French and Ital-
ian roles, but during visit to Bayreuth
in 1898, Nine. Cosimo Wagner, after
hearing Madame Nordica sing, paid her
the great compliment of inviting her to
create the role of Elsa in Lohengrin, at
Bayreuth the following season. She un-
dertook the task, entering into it with
great enthusiasm, and acquired such o
command Of the German language as to
make her appearance at the end Of five
months, and this performance established
her fame as q singer Of renown. She was
the first American prima donna to ap-
pear in these celebrated performances
and she was the first singer OF any
nationality to elliott at Bayreuth public
demonstration Of enthusiasm. Although
no one is allowed to applaud there dur
| ing. the opera, to avoid injuring the effect
of the music, number OF persons in the
audience We're SO moved by the superb
| manner in which she led the. immense
chorus and orchestra through the great
finale of the first not, that score or more
rose to their feet, and theories of "brava'
were heard In different parts of the
house. This started applause until cheer
ing swelled into an ovation. This was
Nine. Nordica' s first great triumph, and
when she returned to New York to sing
at the Metropolitan Opera House, she WIS
rapturously received, both there and in
Boston, where she sang in Wagnerian
opera with all of the greatest foreign
singers that American managers were
able to secure. Here she made name
for herself as Isolde, and repeated her
triumph in Lohengrin, which brought
of enthusiasm that they presented her
with magnificent diamond tiara during
performance of that opera.
Most literally endowed with graces of
person, voice and artistic intelligence and
ability, Mime. Mordicas repertoire is
tween thirty and forty operas-not only
italian and French operas ready for per-
formance, but all of the Wagnerian music
dramas, and the standard oratorios. She
also speaks fuently all Of the languages
in which she sings. Her name in private
life is Mrs. Zoltan Dome.
Upon closing her engagement with the
Maine Musical festival Nine. Nordica is
to start upon an unprecedented concert
tour. She goes to Chicago and Milwau-
kee, thence west to the Pacific coast, sing
ing in five concerts in San Francisco, Wis
iting Los Angeles, Seattle, Tacoma,
Helena, Butte, Denver, and many other
cities, returning to New York about the
first of March. In all she will sing in so
concerts and save in San francisco she
will appear but once in any town. San
Francisco, however, would never be con-
L6uu W4pl Oup q pAASlO COACGru. NOr0lCa
is a great favorite there and the whole
city and surrounding country will turn
out to pay her homage.
WILLIAM ROGERS CHAPMAN.
William Rogers Chapman. director in
chief of the Maine Music Festival, prides
himself on his Maine ancestry. His
grandfather was one of the early settlers
in the picturesque town Of Bethel and
William Il. spent all his boyhood DAYS
there and still retains the old homestead
where he rests during the summer months
in preparation for his life of activity in
the musical circles of New York during
the winter season. He was born on the
fourth day of August, 1856. His fla Their
was q celebrated Congregational clergy
man in Boston and New York and died at
the age of forty-two from paralysis caused
bv over work. His mother was woman
of strength of character, a lover Of music
and ART in its best form. His two sisters
also possess the same leading traits and
both are connected with musical conser-