The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-05-11
LILLIAN NORDICA,
THE FAMOUS SOPRANO
Death of American Grand Opera Sing
er Took Place in Java-Was q
Native Of Maine.

NEW YORK, May ll.-Iillian Nor
dica, the famous American soprano,
died at Batavia, Java, last night.
She was passenger last Deem
Der on the steamer TaSman, which
went ashore in Bramble bay, in the
gulf of Papua. Nervous prostration
due to this experience was followed by
an attack of pneumonia. She was born
| in Pennington, Maine, daughter of Ed
| win Norton, farmer.
Nordica first studied singing with
! John O'Neil at the New England con
| servatOry in Boston. While music
| student she secured positions in sever
| al Boston churches, and sang in one of
! the Handel and Haydn soeiety's pre-
/ sensations of THE Messiah In 1878
I she went as soloist with Gilmore 5 band
! to Europe, and, after singing with sue
/ cess in Paris, became filled with the
ambition to sing in opera. She studied
| for this career in Milan and Brescia,
making her debut in the latter city in
| 1880.
The next year she became leading
soprano at the Grand opera, Paris. The
rapidity with which she rose to this
high position was little short OF re-
markable Her American debut was
made in New York ut the academy OF
music on November %. 1883. when she
| sang Marguerite in '.Faust, - with an
Italian opera company under the direc
8, ton of Col. Mapleson. 1t is recorded
: that she did not achieve a brilliant
success with her countrywomen at the
outset, but She made a favorable inn
precision. Her greatest success that sea
son was won in concert and Oratorio
While n musical student in Paris sh,
l was married to Frederick A. Cover, ;
f Young American who had made for
tune in the early development of tn,
l. telephone. 1t is said that he spen
e money lavishiy in giving her trainin,
for the life of a prlma donna. Cove
q disappeared some months after hi
r wife had started action for divorce
f lie attempted to cross from France T.
$ England in Il balloon which was pickle
mp at sea. Rumors have cropped up a
intervals for years TO the effect tina
Cover was living in India or in othe
places.
Through the late SOS Nine Nordic
7 was singing with great success in Lor
= don, where she was Il popular idol. He
third American season began in lSg:
, when she made 4 decided success as 81
l sauna in lie Nozze ia Figaro. and j
the tile role of Aida That same yea
she sang in the Wagner festival q
Baireuth, and forthwith became the en-
Il, lnent Wagnerian singer she is remen
e bered by opera-goers to have been. He
m great triumph u.s. Isolde came on NJ
-e Nemhcr p, 1895. 1t was as great ;
$ it was unexpected. The singer ha
n mastered a new art, and the public ha
Is to form new estimates of her place
> the musical world. Known ut first fl
her brilGancy in e0loratHra roles, 81
: now abandoned c0loratura for all tim
Is as her voice and style had, indeed, on
e grown it. Al this time her Margueri
IL in Faust was also n notable perforl
of ance. BY the public she is probab
o. best remembered for her Elsa in L
m hengrin.
IS, + Nine. Nordica 5 second husband.
IS whom She was married on Nav >
1896, was the Hungarian tenor, Zolts
VI. Doeme. Doeme : fate was the divor,
ed court. George Washington Young.
i'll New York banker. became Nine. Nc
i'll dica 5 third husband on July %, 100
.e The wedding took place in London, al
is the bride was given away by John
i'll Carter, secretary of the American Ell
TO bassv.
en- Nine Norelica S fortune was lara
ri. 1t was published as a fact in 1909 tn
RS she had made Sl28, 600 during that Sc
an son alone. Some of her money we
,t-! toward realizing hsr dream of 8
IT. Baireuth in America. - She bought
nd large tract Of land along the HudsC
v-i near Ossining, and, with enthusiasts
bv sSetehed plans for Il great musical
nm stitute. The scheme was nev
brought to realization.