STARS OF THE OPERA

A Description of Operas & a Series of Personal Interviews
with Marcela Sembrich, Emma Eames, Emma Calve,
Lillian Nordica, Lilli Lehmann, Geraldine Farrar
&
Nellie Melba
BY
MABEL WAGNALLS
Author of "Miserere," "Selma, the Soprano," etc.
REVISED AND ENLARGED EDITION

FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY
NEW YORK & LONDON
1909

Copyright, 1899, and 1907
BY
FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY
Registered at Stationers' Hall, London
[Printed in the United States]
AUTHOR'S NOTE
All the interviews in this book have been
proof-read by the singers
Published, September, 1907

To those who love music but have
no opportunity to familiarize themselves
with grand opera this
book is respectfully
dedicated

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
An Interview With Marcella Sembrich[13]
"Semiramide"[25]
A Call on Emma Eames[43]
"Faust"[57]
"Werther"[79]
Calvé and "Carmen"[105]
"Carmen"[117]
"Hamlet"[143]
A Talk with Lillian Nordica[169]
"Lohengrin"[185]
"Aida"[215]
"The Huguenots"[239]
An Hour with Lilli Lehmann[265]
"The Flying Dutchman"[279]
Melba, the Australian Nightingale[303]
"Lakme"[315]
"I Pagliacci"[337]
"Orpheus and Eurydice"[357]
The Genius of Geraldine Farrar[369]
"Madame Butterfly"[379]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
FACING
PAGE
Group of Miniature Portraits, "Stars of the Opera" [Frontispiece]
Marcella Sembrich[15]
Sembrich as Rosina in "The Barber of Seville"[22]
Emma Eames[45]
Melba as Marguerite in "Faust"[64]
Emma Calvé[107]
Calvé as Carmen[128]
Calvé as Ophelia in "Hamlet"[164]
Lillian Nordica[171]
Nordica as Brunhilde in "Siegfried"[182]
Eames as Elsa in "Lohengrin"[202]
Nordica as Aida[220]
Lilli Lehmann[267]
Lehmann as Isolde in "Tristan and Isolde"[270]
Lehmann as Venus in "Tannhäuser"[276]
Nellie Melba[305]
Melba as Elizabeth in "Tannhäuser"[312]
Geraldine Farrar[371]
Miss Farrar as "Madame Butterfly"[384]

An Interview
with
Marcella Sembrich