The times., 1901-05-26

American singer has been able to hold
| her own in Europe.
Undeniably the two most eminent Amer
lean singers of the day are Emma Nordi-
| ca and Emma Eames Both of them have
attained a high place on the operatic
stage OF the world, although they may not
be so well known in all other countries
| as in their own, where for the later years
Of their careers they have chiefly appear
| ed
Nine. Nordica has gained her fame by
her ambition in attempting the most ex-
acting tasks possible to the opera singer,
| and the degree of success with which she
has come through every ordeal has won
| the highest appreciation from her coun-
trymen. she has also won some degres
Of favor as d Wagnerian singer in Ger
many and London, and. indeed, this stage
Of her career began at Bayreuth under
the eye OF Mime. Cosima Wagner.
The later years OF Nine Nordica's ca
reer are more familiar to New Workers
than her early story, which began in
Italy as an opera singer after a career
as a concert singer in this country. Her
birthplace was Pennington, Me, and her
grandfather was a weIl-known singing
preacher of that region Her name was
Norton. She went TO Boston TO cultivate
her voice and in 1873 was the soprano Of
DR.. Osgeods church. in which she at
tracted attention. In 1876 she sang first
in New York at the Grand Opera House
with Gilmore's Band.
She went TO Europe With the organiza-
tiOn the next year and then decided TO
study for the Operattc stage in Milan
She was there pupil of San Giovanni
and in 1873 made her debut as NiOletta in
a small town near Milan. For one season
she sang only that role. The next year
she went to st. Petersburg and sang the
secondary roles until the death CT the
Gar brought the season to a premature
close. Then Nine. NOrdica sang in Dant-
zic, Berlin, and other North German cit
les.
During all these years Nine Nordica
was looked upon as useful artist, but
nobody vet detected in her the woman
who was TO become one OF the great Wag-
merriam sopranos of the time in her own
season at the Metropolitan under Abbey
and Grau IL was usually as a SubStitute
for Nine. Eames, although she attracted
attention in 1884 by notably good per-
formances of Valentine and Marguerite.
The next season found her a regular
member OF the company and she repeated
here the performance of Elsa that was so
much praised at Bayreuth. From that
time her career aS a Wasneridn soprano
began. The grea test triumph of her later
years has been in the part of Isolde, which
was heard several times during the past
season. This role is in all probability the
most eXacting vocal and dramatically of
the entlre repertoire ana MARKS easily the
apex of any singers ambitions. Nine
Nordica was the first American Isolde to
be heard in New York, and in all proba-
biIity there will not be another until Nine.
Eames adds the part to her repertoire.
As Nine. Eames has threatened to wait
until she is forty before singing It there
will in all probability be some years to
wait for that pleasure. Nine. NOrdica,
who began her career as q light soprano,
has brought it TO q more glorious height
than any of her country women ever
l.
the women of Wagner was more difficult
than any they had attempted.
Emma EameS has been on the 0peratfc
stage for only twelve years and has al
-eaGy Won a place among the foremost
sopranos of the day. She also is a daugh-
ter of Maine, although in reality born in
Shanghai, where her father was practic-
ing law. she stands next TO Nine. Nor
dica only because her career has so far
been too brief for her to accomplish so
much as the other singer. But she in
tends TO sing Brunhilde in Die Wal
kuere' next year. and will later take the
other Brunhildes and Isolde into her rep
ertOire.
She sang first at the Opera in Paris in
1888, appearing as Juliet and later as
Colombo. in "AscaniO," by Saint -Saens.
who insisted that she should create the
Leading role. While at the Paris Opera
she also sang at its first performance the
title role in NuX's opera. ''Zaire" She
also sang Marguerite and had already
made a reputation when her two years
IL
renew it, as she felt that her opportunities
were limited at this theatre. and she pre-
ferred to develop her qualities in some
opera house not so bound to the tradi-
tionS of French operate art
In the following spring she accepted Sir
Augustus Harris invitation to sing at CO.
vent Garden. Maurice GraU, who was at
that time engaging artists for his hrst
season at the metropolitan. met Nine.
Eames in Paris and asked her to come
TO this city to sing in the next year. She
anp bfIf during .
London season as Elsa, Marguerite, Mir
ellie. Desdemona, and Juliet She came
to New York the next fall, and her career
since that time has been a matter of COM
mon knowledge to persons interested in
operate matters.
She has steadily enlarged her repertoire
and has acquired among her Wagnerian
roles in the original Elsa, E.lizab beth. Eva, y
and Sieglinde. She will appear next sea-
''Die Walkuere." Later she viii be heard
in the same roles in "Siegfried' and
GoetterdaemmeTung-" As the climax OF
her Wagneriau career she Is to sing
Isolde
She has now come to be accepted as one
of the foremost sopranos of the day. Her
repertoire bears its evidence of her ambi-
ton and musical gifts. since she has
learned during her twelve years on the
toned Aida. Donna Elvita the Countess
Santuzza. Michaela, Mrs. Ford, Charlotte
in ''Werther," Yasodhara in The Light
OF ASIA by lSidore de Lara and GhiselIe
in Franck'S opera of the same name
Nine Eames is destined to take a high
place in the list Of Americas great women
singers.