Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-20

pened to mention to the music editor
that he had been commissioned by
Nordica to paint q series of portraits
OF her in various roles In which she
became q distinguished interpreter. He
did much of this work at her home and
in Boston. The only photograph he
himself possesses of any Of these works
however, is that reproduced here Tin
the oval paneD. 1t was n hastily-made
snapshot of portrait in elaborate aft
ernoon costume, with hat adorned
with huge aigrettes. Mr.. Baker says
that this was not his idea Of costume.
but was insisted upon by Nine. Nordica
herself. The painter often worked I'M
der the most discouraging difficulties,
with all sorts of Interruptions. yet he
managed to achieve his original plans,
and has a store of amusing anecdotes
to relate which give intimate glimpses
into the singers private life.
Singer Was Sixth Child.
Lillian Nordica was born in this little
Maine farmhouse with quantity papered
walls in the Sandy River Valley De-
eember IL, 1857. She was the sixth
child of Edwin and Amanda Allen Nor
ton. Her paternal great-grandfather
was Peter Norton of Revolutionary re-
noWn, q native Of Edgartown, Mass Her
mother was q daughter of famous
Campmeeting John Allen, noted both
as an expounder Of Methodism and as
q clever wit.
When Lillian was years old her
parents moved to Boston, where she
received her education. Her mother
had a delightful voice, and was q good
pianist, and her father was an ardent,
If amateur, violinist. The very quality
of Lillian's voice was SO unusual that it
attracted early notice. She was soon
entered at the New England Conserve
tory of Music, where her first instructor
was the distinguished teacher John
O'Neill. Her first student recital ap-
pearance was in 1876, when she sang
an aria from III Trovatore." Nine.
height of her fame, discovered the
girls remarkable voice, and introduced
her to Nine MaretZek, who coached her
in 20 operate roles, laying . flne foun-
dalton for what was to prove one OF the
most brilliant of all operate careers.
Like many other famous men and
women, Lillian Nordica owed q definite
and substantial degree Of her success di-
rectly TO her mother. With the loyal and
intelligent, constant companionship Of
Mrs. Norton, the young singer went to
Italy, and 1t was in BreScia, in the title
role of Verdi's LA Traviata," that Lii
liam Nordica had her operate debut.
This, however, was after much diScour-
aging experience abroad. One may
judge from the quoted letter written by
Mrs. Norton Just before that debut to
q brother in America kindly sent us,
copied from the actual letter in Farm
! ington, at the request Of Mrs. Lawson)
that even this singer, destined to be
one OF the greatest OF them all, had no
continuously rosy path.
letter
signed another agreement to sing the
principal part in the opera 'TraViata,
! by Verdi, in the City Of Brescia, on the
Gulf OF Venice. SO you see that the
results of the eight months study be-
| gin TO develop. 1t is an unusual thing
for a girl in SO short time in Italy to
make debut in this city, where already
so many are waiting and studying. No
one can tell what may be done by
making an untiring effort, early and
late fighting the battle of self-denial,
never allowing discouragements to get
the mastery.
You will never know the hours OF
almost painful practice Of scales, hours
OF digging out the language until sleep
asserts its supremacy, that an artist
will and is obliged to subject him or
herself to in order to master the
masters"
Nordica herself admitted in an inter-
view given in New York years later at
the height of her dazzling success that
"Oh, 1 have been so discouraged; !
have wept barrels Of tearsi" She also
added:
My progress has not been by leaps
and bounds. 1t has been more tortoise
like, and ! have sometimes seen others
sweep past me with apparently little
effort. But in the end justice comes
around to all. What is it Mrs. Carter
| says in 'Zaza about success? 1T comes
| from much misery Yes, there Is very
much of that. And much work-ah, a
great deal OF that And q little luck
| yes, a very little of that. It Is not good
to have much luck"
| Even so, TO the great EOrdica were
accorded many high honors. She was
the first singer TO be heard in the new
Trocadero in Paris. She was especially
favored with painstaking coaching in
| Wagnerian roles by the widow OF the
great composer. and to her. an Ameri-
can singer fell the honor OF being the
| first to sing the role of Elsa in "Lohen-
grin" In the masters home, Bayreuth.