The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-19
She Will Be a Member of
sMelba'S Company
When She Made an Operatic Tour
Several Years Ago.
HAS WON HIGH PRAISE ABROAD.

NEW YORK, July 10. - Especial | -
Though New York would have none of
Mile. Zelio de Lussan when she essayed TO
sing I'm opera here some years ago, the an
nouncemcnt made the other day that she
Is TO appear In this city next season as a
member of Melba's supporting company
is hailed with general delight. This Is
chiefly because, though not successful in
New York, she has won great praise In
London and other old world cities.
Zelie dc Lussan Is of American birth.
but her family Is French, and its history
has been filled with romance. Her grand
father was an ardent republican, and was
killed while fighting for the first republic.
His espousal OF the cause of tho people
naturally led to the fall of the family's
fortunes, and his son came TO America
with his wife Eugene. She was an un-
usually clever, well educated woman and
an expert linguist. She was also expert
with her pen. and for some years after
their arrival here helped support tho fam
lily by writing American letters and gen
eral articles for the press of Paris, Lon
don, Berlin and Vienna Zelie was born
In New York about 26 years ago.
She began to sing when only young
girl, and, her voice showing decided pos
sibilities, her mother took great pains with
her musical education. Zelie's first sing
ing for pay was in church choir when
she was only IL. She soon gave up the
choir, however, and at 10 made her first
appearance In opera with the Boston
Ideals. Her troubles began right then.
Her singing appeared to be all right.
Some of the critics indeed praised 1t to the
skies, but somehow she couldn't get along
with the other members of the company,
and the engagement lasted only year.
Most OF her singing with the Ideals was
done on the road, and her friends said the
trouble all arose from the fact that she got
better newspaper notices in the interior
towns than elder members of the company
could command. After she left the Ideals |
she went on the road in company of her |
own, doing fairly we'll most OF the time |
and scoring some notable successes, espe-
oialiy in Boston, and later venturing an
appearance here In Carmen"
DE Lussan's Great Foreign Success.
Her friends expected great things from
her CARMEN. Her voice is admirably suited
tosts airs, her personality seems to fit the
part to perfection, and she was known to
nave studied 10 with the greatest care
But somehow she failed to convince the
!
Carmen, and the engagement resulted in
failure instead of success.
Then she went abroad, where she Joined
Carl Rosa,s English Opera company, as a
member OF which she won unstinted ap-
1lause, impressing the better classes" so
ayorably that she wos commanded" TO
ing before the queen. This is of course
high honor, aud of course 1t is u good
ieal more than an honor. 10 is virtually
guarantee that success will continue a |
ong time, since all English sweldom,
supplemented by all English toadydom,
naturally makes it point to take up an !
rtIst who has been favored by royalty.
Ihe young singer was almost swept off |
Ter feet by the augmented triumphs that
ollowed her performance on the boards of
windsor castle, where the queen always
ears opera and witnesses theatrical per
ormanccs. This was true to such an ex-
ent that Zclie allowed herself to be inter.
iewed by the newspapers at length re-
arding the queen and the performance,
nd there were somo murmurings at the
etails with which the story was told.
hose did not really amount to much,
owever, since when tho interview was
sad second time it was seen that she ,
nd said nothing SO very terrible after all, I
iough tho naivete of her uttcrances was S
ing referred 20 as most delicious evil
ence of thorough Americanism. !.
Ever since her successful appearance at : :
Iindsor castle general regret has been cx- >
resscd by certain musical critics and I
peratic managers because of Zclic do Lus. O
IN g apparent unwillingness again 10 APP {
saY on this side the sea in spite of the Z
ct that Englands queen is probably no $
sttcr judge of operatic performances than G
ost nice old ladies of unimpeachable !,
milv relations. But 1t is probable that =