The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-05-11
Mime. lvordica
ass s Au,ay
AT Batavia
OPERA SINGER, KNOWN on TWO
CONTINENTS, YIELDS TO
DEATH. 3
ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS OF
WAGNERIAN INTERPRETERS
THAT HAS EVER! lived.

By ASSOCIATED Plrss.J @
BATAVIA, Java, May 1l.--Mne.
Lillian Eordica, the Slayer, died
here last night.
Nine. Nordica had been III for al
number of, weeks, but was thought
TO be recovering antil last Tuesday,
when she suffered a relapse.
Her Illness followed severe nery-
Gus shock which she sustained while
in a sllipwreck in the South Pacific
ocean.
Lillian .Nordica was an American
singer of Worldwide fame. Her ad-
mirers ranged from the men of the
Bowery section Of New York, where
she had sung at mission meetings.
TO. the most critical box holders OF
grand opera houses III all OF, the
worlds great musical centers. The
purity of Tier voice, employed in
many tongues, had delighted hun
dreds OF thousands since The day, 40
years ago. she FIRST appeared in pub
lie as soprano solist at Grace church
in Boston.
Nordica aud Eamcs - although
the latter was born of american pa
rents in far-ofr China-wcre of old
New England stock, both claimed
by the state of Maine, and they
made up notable American con-
tribution to the operate world. A
farm house built by the prima don-
ua's great grandfather on hill
Just outside the village of Farming
ton. Maine. swas Nordica's birth.
place, In 1859. Her, true name was
Lillian Norton. She changed 1t TO
the Italian, Nordica, 20 years later
when she, began to study in Italy
for an operate career.
After her graduation from the
New England Conservatory OF Mus
| ic at Boston, and successful singing
OF the leading roles In several of the
oratorios given by the Haendel and
Hadyn Society, she went. to Europe,
III 1890 dS u SuiulsL Will hlllOIc .
band. She chung tenaciously to class
steal music, and was well received
by great audiences in the Crystal
Palace, London, and the Trocadero.
Paris. She decided to remain in Eu-
rope and attempt an operate career.
She went to Milan and became "a
pupil of Sangiovanni, and within
six months she had mastered ten
operas.
Her debut in opera was at BrcsA
cia in 1879 in La Traviata." After
a trip 10 st. Petersburg she appear
ed for trial before Ambrose; Thomas
and the$ impressario, Vancerbcil,
who engaged her for the Grand
Opera House in Paris. Her first APP
pearance there, in 1882, as :'Alar-
guerite" in Faust" was n triumph.
The critics observed her American
accent, but said 1t gave, piquancy to
her tone, and her acting was lauded
as equal to her singing.
Shereturned to America and tour
ed this country with great success.
Insthe succeeding years she appear
ed in opera br concert in almost .ev-
cry city OF musical culture in the
world. Her repertoire included
more than fifty operas. Her Sue
cess with Mjagnerian roles became
the pinnacle OF her fame. Bay
reauth in 1884 she appeared as Ell
sa in "Lohengrin" and SHE is. per-
haps, best remembered in that part.
She received decorations OF various
sorts abroad, aud gifts without
number from. friends at home. The
stockholders of the Metropolitan
Opera House presented her with q
diamond tiara.
Her matrimonial ventures num-
bered three. She was first married
in 1889 to Frederick Cover, 4
|,wealthy electrician. and native OF
fGr state of Maine. whom she met
in Paris. Shortly after she had be-
gun separation proceedings in 1884,
Cover disappeared. He attempted a
balloon trip across the English
channel. Although the balloon was