Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-09-15
RETURNED
To Her Native City.
Jeanette Acrona,. the
Noted Prima Donna,
Is Known Here as Miss
Jennie WhiteIaw.
Her Career as a Singer Well
Nigh Meteoric.
+.
Assisted by Her Brother, She will
Give Concert In Akron.

Give a Concert IN AKr0h'
In April, 1895, there went forth from
this city, young lady who had al
ready won local reputation as a sing
er. Friday, she returned to her native
town and with her came name, fa-
nous throughout the length and
breadth Of Europe as a singer of
Grand Opera.
This wonderful transition is the re-
suit of nearly five years of unceasing,
self-sacriicng study. 1t was the re-
suit of a fixed determination to one
day stand among the leaders of the
Grand Opera stage.
Miss Jennie NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Jeanette Acrona, The former is the
name familiar to many Akron friends,
the latter is a household word among
the music loving people Of sunny Italy.
In May, 1893, Miss whltelaw grad
uated from the Royal Conservatory OF
Music i'm Florence, Italy, after having
studied for three years with the cele-
brated italian singing master, Maestro
Francesca Cortesi Her voice is a
rich, full mezzo-soprano with range
extending from low "f" to, high &c. ;
1t is considered by Italian critics, who,
by the way, are especially severe with
their criticism Of American artists, to
be the finest voice in Italy. At the fa-
nous conservatory, over which Cortesi
presldes, Miss Whitelaw was said to
possess the richest voice that ever en-
tered the institution and she was al
ways chosen for the solo parts in place
of the native singers. After gradua-
tion, Mis- Whltclaw entered in the field
ton, Miss Whitelaw entered the field
stacle presented itself, which the sin
ger has most happily overcome. Be-
cause of the peculiar construction Of
the Italian language her own name
could not be translated, The absence
of wv" and tx" and III is used very
lttle-making of her name an unpro-
nouncenbe mass of letters. Conse-
quently she adopted a new name-Sig-
norma JeJanette Acrona-and so eu-
phonious is 1t In the italian tongue,that
she has been highly complimented up
on her choice, AS can readily be OBJ
served the stage name is Il variation
of Akron, Miss Whitelaw's native city.
Miss Acrona made her debut in
Aquila, near Rome, about two years
ago. From the first her success was
predicted by the most eminent critics.
Her first appearance created furor in
in musical circles and the young Amer
lean was frequently applaudedD
No less than 80 grand operas have
been mastered by Miss Acrona. Among
them are the following; IL Trovatore
as Azucena; Aida, as Aninerls; La
Favorita, as Elianora; II Profeta, as La
Fede; Lohengrin, as Or Truda; Car
men, as Carmen.
Miss Whitelaw has appeared In all
the principal cities in Italy and Spain.
In the latter country she was compell-
ed to pass as an English lady, as the
American artists We're Missed from the
Spanish stage,
In speaking of the incident to rep
resentatlye of the Democrat, Saturday
morning, Miss Acrona said;
THE prejudice against the Amer-
can singers was so strong that they
were Kissed from the stage And Span
ish kissing is very different from the
American variety, There they carry
shrill whistles TO the. rneater and II
the artist fails to please the crowd,
she is 'whistled from the stage.
While Miss Whitelaw's time has
been taken with the study Of music