The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-09

N. Bari and E. Tore, and nearly all of
the baritones and bassos are of the real
Italian brand. On the other hand, there
exists a peculiar state of things, but
one that Americans may view with
pride, for although the female mem
bers of the company received their mus
zeal education in Italy, they are nearly
all of them American born and bred.
The nearest approach to an Italian is
Madame Duce- Merola. the brilliant
mezzo-soprano, who although of italian
parentage, on her mothers side. was
born in Vienna. She has not only her
beautiful voice to charm her audience
with but is also considered one of the
handsomest women on the stage today.
Madame Duce-Merola, with her hus-
band Conductor Merola, were for three
seasons in South America, where they
appeared in all the principal cities of
that country.
When the season of italian grand OPP
era opened in September at the Ameri-
can theater, New York, Manager
Abramson was without the service of
his dramatic prima donna, because of
misunderstanding with his agent in
Italy. Through the French and Italian
consuls, word was received that young
French prima donna, Mime. Helene
Therry, was in the city on other bust
ness, who was up in Aida" and ar
rangements were Immediately made
with her for two performances of that
opera. Nine. Therry made such an ex-
ceIlenI impression ana Was so We'll re-
ceived by both press and public that a
two years contract was made with her
by Mr.. Abramson, Nine. Therry was
born in Bordeaux, France. A woman of
dramatic instinct to become, if, indeed,
she is not already, one of the great
figures on the operate stage today.
When at her best she sweeps every
thing before her. Nine. Therry came to
this country with European reputa-
ton. She made her debut in Liege, in
Belgium, in the role of Sigurd, and was
the first French artistic to sing the role
Of Marguerite in Bottles 'Mephisto-
pheles" She created the part of Anita
in La Navarisse,' for which she re-
ceived the personal communication of
Massenet, and she also created the role
of Fedora in France. Although com
paratively young woman, Nine.
Therry has appeared with Alverez,
Renaud and all of the principal French
singers in the leading opera houses of
her native country, and is strongly en-
dorsed and spoken of in the highest
terms by Massenet. Charpentier and
other French composers, and she is a
strong and welcome acquisition to the
excellent organization which Mr.. Abb
ransom is taking on this tour of the
principal American cities.
The brilliant colorature soprano of the
company, Miss Julia Allen, is an Anneri-
can girl and a native of Binghamton,
N. Y. Pennsylvania also has an able
representative In the person of Miss
Georgiana Strauss, the leading con-
tralto, whose work both last season and
the present has received the highest
praise from the press of all cities visit
ed. Miss Strauss halls from Erie, Pa,
and has sung in all of the principal cities
of Europe. Mile Madeleine Bossi, an
other charming contralto with the
Abramson company, despite her foreign
name is New York girl of German
parentage, She made her debut in
Liege. Belgium. and has a voice of most
excellent quality. and Miss Diamond
Dopner, whom theater goers may recall
as the tall and stately beauty who was