Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-05-12

.SUCCUMBS
Al BATAVIA
POPULAR SOPRANO DIES
FROM AN ATTACK OF
PNEUMONIA.
:aAD An ILLUS1RlOUS CAREER
Purity Of Her Voice Has
Delighted Thousands In
Many Lands.
CAD AN lLLUSIRlOUS CAREER

Batavia, Java, May 11.-Lillian Nor
dica, a worldwide favorite, died here
last night from pneumonia. Her. body
will he sent to the United States for
burial, enclosed in a Chinese casket.
Lillian Nordica was an American
singer of worldwide fame. Her ad-
mirers ranged from the men of the
Eowery section of New York, where
she had sung at mission meetings, to
the most critical box holders of grand
opera houses in all of the worlds
great musical centers. The purity of
her voice, employed in many tongues,
had delighted hundreds of thousands
since the day, 40 years ago, she first
appeared in public as soprano SOLO
list at Grace church in E'oston.
Of New England Stock.
Nordica and Unconstitutional the
latter was born of American parents
in far off China-were of old New
England stock, both claimed by the
state of Maine, and they made up a
notable American contribution to the
operate world. A farm house built
by the prima donna's great-great-
grandfather, on hill just outside the
village Of Pennington, Me-, was Nor
dica's birthplace, in 1859. Her true
name was Lillian Norton. She chang
ed it to the Italian, Nordica, 20 years
later, when she began to study in
Italy for an operate career.
Began Career in 1873.
After her graduation from the New
England Conservatory of Music at
Boston. and successful singing of the
leading roles in several of the orato-
rios given by the Haendel and Haydn
society, she went to Europe, in 1878,
as a soloist with Gilmores band. She
clung .enaciouely to classical music,
and was we'll received by great audi
ences in the Crystal Palace, London,
and the Trocadero, Paris. She decid-
ed to remain in Europe and attempt
an operate career She went to Mi
IAN and became a pupil of Sargiovah,
nj, and within six months she had
mastered ten operas.
Debut in ia Traviata.'
. Her debut in opera was at Brescia,
n 1879 in la Traviata." After a
rip to st. Petersburg she appeared
,or trial before Ambrose Thomas
md the impressario, Vancorbeil, who
engaged her for the Grand Opera
House in Paris. Her first appearance
here, in 1882, as "Marguerite," in
Faust was triumph. The critics
observed her American accent, out
laid it gave piquancy TO her tone, and
Ter acting was lauded as equal to her
inging.
Repertoire Large.
She returned to America and tour
ID this country with great success.
n the succeeding years she appeared
II opera or concert in almost every
ity Of musical culture in the world.
Ter repertoire included more than
y operas. Her success with Wag-
lerian roles became the pinnacle of
Ter fame. AT Bayreuth, in 1884, she
ppeared as Elsa in "Lohengrin," and
he is, perhaps, best remembered in
hat part. She received decorations
# various sorts abroad, and gifts
Without number from friends at home
he stockholders of the metropolitan
)pera House presented her with d.
mond tiara
Married Three Times.
Her matrimonial ventures number.
d three, She was first married in
SS2 to Frederick A. Cover, veal
ny electrician and native of her
tate of Maine. whom she met in Par
). Shrotly after she had begun sep
ration proceedings, in 1884. Cover
isappeared. He attempted a bal
'on trip across the English channel.
Though the balloon was later found,
othirg was ever heard or seen Of
i'm.
In 1896, Nine. Nordica married Zol-
IN Doeme, a Hungarian army officer
nd singer, from whom she secured
ivorce in 1905.
Her third marriage was in London,
! 1909, to George w. Young, veal
~ New York banker. 1t was an
Ounced at that time that Nordica
ould retire from the STAGE but after i
honeymoon spent in part at the old
orton homestead in Maine, she de-
ded upon farewell concert tour
the world 1t was while making
le leg of this trip on the Dutch
Gamer, Iasman. that the vessel ran ,
shore on Thursday Island in the An. s
podes. The shock of the accident {
I'd exposure brought on pneumonia
me. Nordica's admirers felt it to be {
particularly tragic circumstances !
at the famous singer should have !
lien dangerously i'll on the other |
de of the world. {
Her body will be brought directly \
this country and be buried near +
g old homestead in Maine. G
Was Rich. r
The NOrdca fortune must be large. h
was published as fact in 1909 f
at she had. made $12S,O0O during q
(COntinued On Page n d