New-York tribune., 1921-11-23
Nilsson, Noted
Opera Soprano, /,
DiesinDenrnark
End Comes TO Singer in Co
penhagen; Born of Hum
bic Parents, Voice At
lracted Attention i'm Youth
Won Success in u. S.
Appeared Here First in 10
in Opera and Concert;
Rival of Adelina Patti

COPENHAGEN, Nov. 22 (By The As
sociated Press) s)---Christine Nilsson, the
noted operate soprano, died here this
morning She was seventy-eig years
old.
The diva, who for years was re-
garded as the chief If not the only
rival of Adelina Patti for queenship Of
the world of song, was the youngest of
the seven children Of small farmer
on the estate of Count Hamilton, near
Wexio, in the district Of Wederslof
Sweden, and was born on August 20,
lS43. Her given name was Kristina,
but she became, after her advent upon
the stage, universally known as Chris
tine.
Her first few years were passed In
the humblest fashion, but they were
marked with undoubted demonstrations
OF musical ability When only thirteen
years old she went with her elder
brother TO fair or festival at Nexio,
where she sang folksongs to the ac-
compartment of her brothers. fiddle.
Her singing attracted the attention Of q
provincial judge, named Thoornerhielm
who few days later visited her home
and proposed to her parents that they
should permit him to have her edu-
Gated for the musical profession. to
which they gladly agreed.
Also Studied the Violin
She was then placed under the charge
or Baroness Leuhusen (nee Valerius)
a retired opera singer, who took her to
Halmstad and for some years carefully
instructed her in singing, the piano
and languages. Thence she went To
Stockholm, and under Franz BerwaId
studied harmony and the violin.
Her progress was so marked that
within six months she was presented
to sing at the royal court. For time
II was question whether she would
become singer or q violin virtuoso,
but happily the former career was
chosen. For the completion Of her
studies she went with Baroness Leu
nusen to Paris, where she was the
pupil Of WarteI
Her first appearance on the opera
stage was at the Lyric Theater, Paris.
on October 27, 1864, as yioletta in a
French version OF "La Traviata." in
which she achieved extraordinary sue
cess. This was followed with perform
ances Of Martha" "The Magic Fluten
and other Italian operas. She created
the parts Of Myrrha in Joncieres,s
"Sardanapalus" and Estelle in Cohen's
E Ebluets. She remained at the Lyric
1heater three years. Her first appear
ance IN London was at Her Maiestv's
Ihester, as Violetta, on June 8. 1857.
Durlng shat engagement she sang Mar
garer IN Gounod's Faust" which be-
came cam perhaps the best of all her parts.
The next year she sang Ophelia in
Thomas's Hamlet" at the Paris Onsra
House, and in 1869 she appeared st
Sovenc Garden In the same cast with
Patti and Tietjens, singing Donna FL
ylra TO PATHS Zerlina and Tietiens's
Donna Anna. She also sang at the Bir-
mlngham Music Festival at the Hande,
FESTIVAL and for the Philharmonic So
ciety at the centenary Of Beethoven =
birth. &
Came Co United States In 1870
Miss Nilsson came to th. rrni+ed
States in 1870, and for two wears sang
IN Italian opera and concerts under
Ine management of Max Strakosch, one
OF her notable performances being as
Elsa in "Lohengrin" Thereafter she
frequently visited this country. where
her popularity rivaled that Of Patti
and Gerster. She sang in her last
operatlc season here at the Metropol-
itan Opera House with Italo Campa-
MINI Her farewell 20 the stage was
sung IN June, 1888, though she after
ward participated in Sims Reeves's
farewell concert in May, 1891.
only once did she visit her native
land as singer. That was in 1876,
when she made an extended Scandi-
navlan sour, with unbounded success.
her voice was of moderate power, but
brilliant, and exceptionally sweet and
even in quality throughout the entire
register Of nearly three octaves. On
the advice of Rossini she did not at
tempt the highest notes of which her
voice volce might have been capable, for
fear of straining her vocal organs.
which were not robust. She most ex-
ceiled IN pathetic parts, such as Mar
garet, Elsa and Mignon.
She was married on July 81, 1872, in
Westminster Abbey, the ceremony be-
ing performed by Dean Stanley. Her
husband was Auguste Rouzeaud, of
Parls, successful stock broker, and
for few years their married life was
ideally happy. But nearly ten years
later he became violently insane
through the vicissitudes of specula-
ton and the disastrous failure Of the
Union Generate, and had 10 be com
nned IN private asylum, where he
died in February, 1882. Her second
marriage took place in Paris in March.
1887, her husband being Count Casa
di Miranda, a Spanish nobeman and
politician, who was the intimate friend
and confidential secretary Of Canovas
del Castillo when the latter was Prime
Minister. He died in September, 1902.
Miss Nilsson amassed large for
tune through her professional activi-
Ties, commanding for years higher
salaries and fees for singing than any
other cantatrice, save, perhaps, Ade-
Ina Patti. She invested largely in
American real estate and derived
therefrom substantial profits. A busi-
ness building in Boston which she had
owned for many years was sold for
s137 900 about ten years ago by the
Rothschilds. who were her agents She
had purchased it in 1875. To the end Of
her life. amid all the Injuries Of
wealth, she retained her simplicity Of
manner and of taste. She carefully
preserved the little wooden skirt which
she wore at the Wexio fair and the
little fiddle upon which her brother
played, and regarded them as among
her most preciouS treasures