In 1880 he visited America on a concert tour, and while in Boston became the conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which was organized and established during the three years of his conductorship. In 1881 he married Miss Lillian Bailey, a Boston lady, who was a concert singer of marked ability. In 1884 he returned to London, where he has since organized the London[{322}] Symphony concerts, and won an enviable position in the musical world.
Myron W. Whitney, who was born in 1836 at Ashbury, Mass., decided at an early age on following a musical career. For ten years he sang in concerts, and then went to Italy, where he studied under Vannucini, and later in London under Randegger. He now made a tour of Great Britain, and at the Birmingham festival sang the rôle of Elijah in such a manner as to make an immediate reputation for himself. He has a superb bass voice, which under long and careful training became flexible and even, and which extended for nearly three octaves. After achieving a reputation in England he returned to America, and from 1876 he has sung only in his native land, where his reputation is unexcelled.
For many years Mr. Whitney sang in light opera, but he also gave an interpretation of the King in "Lohengrin," under[{323}] the baton of Theodore Thomas, when the American Opera Company was floated, which is said to have been finer than any heard in this country. Of late years Mr. Whitney has retired from the stage and settled in Boston, where he teaches singing.
To give an account of all the singers who have appeared in grand opera would require several volumes. Of American singers alone there are many more who have achieved fame than can be placed in this little book. Alwina Valleria, of Baltimore, was well known, and is now married and settled in England. Emma Juch, Helene Hastreiter, Marie Litta, Emma Abbott, Louise Dotti are all of American origin and became well known. Margaret Reed, Suzanne Adams, Susan Strong are singers whose stars are in the ascendent.
As time passes on, the number of singers whose names are handed down as "famous" is very small in proportion to the number of[{324}] singers who come before the public, and it is possible that even some of those mentioned in this book may become dim in the distance of years.[{325}]
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF FAMOUS SINGERS.
The dates in italic are not authenticated.
| Name | Birth | Début | Retired | Death |
| Ferri, Baldassare | 1610 | 1621 | 1680 | |
| Abell, John | 1660 | 1682 | 1716 | |
| Nicolini, Nicolo Grimaldi | 1673 | 1694 | 1726 | ? |
| Leveridge, Richard | 1670 | 1695 | 1730 | 1758 |
| Tofts, Mrs. Katharine | ? | 1703 | 1709 | 1740 |
| Epine, Francesca Margherita | ? | 1704 | 1718 | ? |
| Valentini, Valentino Urbani | ? | 1707 | 1714 | ? |
| Boschi, Giuseppe | ? | 1711 | 1728 | ? |
| Bernacchi, Antonio | 1690 | 1712 | 1730 | 1756 |
| Galeratti, Catherina | ? | 1714 | 1721 | ? |
| Robinson, Anastasia | ? | 1715 | 1722 | 1750 |
| Bordoni, Faustina (Hasse) | 1700 | 1716 | 1756 | 1783 |
| Cuzzoni, Francesca (Sandoni) | 1700 | 1719 | 1750 | 1770 |
| Senesino, Francesco Bernardi | 1680 | 1719 | 1735 | 1750 |
| Tesi, Tramentini Vittoria | 1690 | 1719 | 1749 | 1775 |
| Durastanti, Margherita | 1695 | 1720 | 1734 | ? |
| Carestini, Giovanni | 1705 | 1721 | 1758 | 1758 |
| Farinelli (Carlo Broschi) | 1705 | 1722 | 1762 | 1782 |
| Borosini, Francesco | 1695 | 1723 | ? | ? |
| Caffarelli, Gaetano Majorano | 1703 | 1724 | 1750 | 1783 |
| Fenton, Lavinia (Duchess of Bolton) | ? | 1726 | 1731 | 1760 |
| Fabri, Annibale | 1697 | 1729 | ? | 1760 |
| Gizziello, Gioacchino Conti | 1714 | 1729 | 1753 | 1761 |
| Monticelli, Angelo Maria | 1710 | 1730 | ? | 1764[{326}] |
| Beard, John | 1717 | 1736 | 1767 | 1791 |
| Raff, Anton | 1714 | 1738 | 1779 | 1797 |
| Amorevoli, Angelo | 1716 | 1741 | ? | 1798 |
| Guarducci, Tommasso Toscano | 1720 | 1745 | 1771 | ? |
| Guadagni, Gaetano | 1725 | 1747 | 1784 | 1797 |
| Gabrielli, Caterina | 1730 | 1747 | 1780 | 1796 |
| Mingotti, Regina | 1728 | 1748 | 1787 | 1807 |
| Ciprandi, Ercole | 1738 | 1754 | 1763 | 1790 |
| Arnould, Madeleine Sophie | 1744 | 1757 | 1778 | 1803 |
| Calori, Angiola | 1732 | 1758 | 1783 | 1790 |
| Tenducci, Giusto Fernandino | 1736 | 1758 | 1791 | 1800 |
| Catley, Anne | 1745 | 1762 | 1784 | 1789 |
| Amici, Anna Lucia de | 1740 | 1763 | 1789 | ? |
| Manzuoli, Giovanni | 1725 | 1764 | 1771 | ? |
| Ranzzini, Venanzio | 1747 | 1765 | 1810 | |
| Pacchierotti, Gasparo | 1744 | 1769 | 1796 | 1821 |
| Ansani, Giovanni | 1750 | 1770 | 1800 | 1815 |
| Allegranti, Madalena | ? | 1771 | 1799 | ? |
| Rubinelli, Giovanni Battista | 1753 | 1771 | 1800 | 1829 |
| Mara, Gertrude Elizabeth | 1749 | 1771 | 1800 | 1833 |
| Lebrun, Francesca | 1756 | 1771 | 1790 | 1791 |
| Davies, Cecilia | 1752 | 1773 | 1791 | 1836 |
| Marchesi, Luigi | 1755 | 1774 | 1806 | 1829 |
| Cavalieri, Katharina | 1761 | 1775 | 1793 | 1801 |
| Saint Huberty, Antoinette Cécile | 1756 | 1777 | 1789 | 1812 |
| Solié, Jean Pierre | 1755 | 1778 | 1812 | |
| Kelly, Michael | 1764 | 1779 | 1826 | 1826 |
| Banti, Brigitta Giorgi | 1759 | 1779 | ? | 1806 |
| Adamberger, Valentin | 1743 | 1780 | ? | 1804 |
| Babbini, Matteo | 1754 | 1780 | 1802 | 1816 |
| Crouch, Mrs. Anna Maria | 1763 | 1780 | 1800 | 1805 |
| Garat, Pierre Jean | 1764 | ? | 1814 | 1823 |
| Storace, Ann Selina | 1766 | 1780 | 1808 | 1817 |
| Sestini, Giovanna | ? | 1783 | 1791 | ? |
| Crescentini, Girolamo | 1766 | 1783 | 1812 | 1846 |
| Incledon, Charles Benjamin | 1763 | 1784 | 1826 | 1826 |
| Bassi, Luigi | 1766 | 1784 | 1815 | 1825 |
| Vogl, Johann Michael | 1768 | ? | ? | 1840[{327}] |
| Schröder-Devrient, Wilhelmine | 1804 | 1821 | 1847 | 1860 |
| Billington, Mrs. Elizabeth (née Weichsel) | 1768 | 1784 | 1809 | 1818 |
| Saint Aubin, Jeanne Charlotte Schroeder | 1764 | 1786 | 1818 | 1850 |
| Dickons, Mrs. (née Poole) | 1770 | 1787 | 1822 | 1833 |
| Braham, John | 1774 | 1787 | 1852 | 1856 |
| Bertinotti, Teresa | 1776 | 1788 | 1823 | 1854 |
| Lazzarini, Gustavo | 1765 | 1789 | 1802 | ? |
| Crivelli, Gaetano | 1774 | 1793 | 1829 | 1836 |
| Grassini, Josephine | 1773 | 1794 | 1817 | 1850 |
| Pellegrini, Felice | 1774 | 1795 | 1829 | 1832 |
| Catalani, Angelica | 1779 | 1795 | 1828 | 1849 |
| Campenhout, François van | 1780 | 1797 | 1827 | 1848 |
| Siboni, Giuseppe | 1780 | 1797 | 1818 | 1839 |
| Velluti, Giovanni Battista | 1781 | 1800 | 1829 | 1861 |
| Tacchinardi, Niccolo | 1776 | 1804 | 1831 | 1850 |
| Galli, Filippo | 1783 | 1804 | 1830 | 1853 |
| Colbran (Rossini), Isabella Angela | 1785 | 1806 | 1824 | 1845 |
| Forti, Anton | 1790 | 1807 | ? | 1859 |
| Rubini, Giovanni Battista | 1795 | 1807 | 1844 | 1854 |
| Garcia, Manuel del Popolo Vicente | 1775 | 1808 | 1828 | 1832 |
| Davide, Giovanni | 1789 | 1810 | 1841 | 1851 |
| Fodor-Mainvielle, Josephine | 1793 | 1810 | 1833 | ? |
| Pisaroni, Benedetta Rosamunda | 1793 | 1811 | 1829 | 1872 |
| Stephens, Catherine | 1794 | 1812 | 1835 | 1882 |
| Lablache, Luigi | 1794 | 1812 | 1856 | 1856 |
| Begnis, Giuseppe de | 1793 | 1813 | ? | 1849 |
| Begnis, Signora Claudine Ronzi de | 1800 | 1819 | ? | 1853 |
| Brighenti, Mme. Maria | 1792 | 1814 | 1836 | ? |
| Camporese, Violanti | 1785 | 1816 | 1829 | ? |
| Pasta, Giuditta | 1798 | 1816 | 1850 | 1865 |
| Donzelli, Domenico | 1790 | 1816 | 1841 | 1873 |
| Boccabadati, Luigia | ? | 1817 | ? | 1850 |
| Tamburini, Antonio | 1800 | 1818 | 1859 | 1876 |
| Damoreau, Laure Cinthie Montalant | 1801 | 1819 | 1846 | 1863 |
| Sontag, Henriette (Countess Rossi) | 1805 | 1820 | 1854 | 1854 |
| Curioni, Alberico | 1790 | 1815 | ? | ? |
| Nourrit, Adolphe | 1802 | 1821 | 1839 | 1839[{328}] |
| Schröder-Devrient, Wilhelmine | 1804 | 1821 | 1847 | 1860 |
| Frischer-Achten, Frau | 1805 | 1821 | 1856 | 1896 |
| Unger, Caroline | 1805 | 1821 | 1840 | 1877 |
| Caradori-Allan, Maria Caterina Rosalbina | 1800 | 1822 | 1846 | 1865 |
| Paton, Mary Anne | 1802 | 1822 | 1844 | 1863 |
| Duprez, Gilbert | 1806 | 1825 | 1842 | 1896 |
| Gras, Mme. Julie Aimèe Dorus | 1807 | 1825 | 1851 | 1896 |
| Malibran, Maria Felicita | 1808 | 1825 | 1836 | 1836 |
| Badiale, Cesare | 1800 | 1827 | 1865 | 1865 |
| Brambilla, Marietta | 1807 | 1827 | ? | ? |
| Templeton, John | 1802 | 1828 | 1852 | |
| Staudigl, Joseph | 1807 | 1827 | 1856 | 1861 |
| Grisi, Giulia | 1812 | 1829 | 1861 | 1869 |
| Albertazzi, Emma | 1814 | 1830 | 1846 | 1847 |
| Seguin, Arthur Edward Shelden | 1809 | 1831 | ? | 1852 |
| Ronconi, Giorgio | 1810 | 1831 | 1874 | 1890 |
| Bishop, Mme. Anna | 1814 | 1831 | ? | 1884 |
| Persiani, Fanny | 1812 | 1832 | 1858 | 1867 |
| Stoltz, Rosina | 1815 | 1832 | 1849 | ? |
| Loewe, Johanna Sophie | 1815 | 1832 | 1848 | 1866 |
| Frege, Mme. (Livia Gerhard) | 1818 | 1832 | ? | 1847 |
| Moriani, Napoleone | 1806 | 1833 | 1847 | 1878 |
| Novello, Clara Anastasia | 1818 | 1833 | 1860 | |
| Shaw, Mary (Mrs. Alfred Shaw) | 1814 | 1834 | 1843 | 1876 |
| Poole, Elizabeth | 1820 | 1834 | 1870 | |
| Pischek, Johann Baptist | 1814 | 1835 | 1863 | 1873 |
| Nau, Maria Dolores Benedicta Josephina | 1818 | 1836 | 1856 | |
| Sequin, Mrs. (Ann Childe) | 1818 | 1836 | 1889 | |
| Castellan, Jeanne Anaïs | 1819 | 1836 | 1859 | |
| Tichatschek, Joseph Alois | 1807 | 1837 | 1870 | 1885 |
| Fraschini, Gaetano | 1815 | 1837 | 1870 | |
| Viardot-Garcia, Pauline | 1821 | 1837 | 1870 | |
| Mario, Chevaliere di Candia | 1812 | 1838 | 1867 | 1883 |
| Belletti, Giovanni | 1813 | 1838 | 1863 | |
| Roger, Gustave Hyppolite | 1815 | 1838 | 1859 | 1879 |
| Frezzolini, Erminia | 1818 | 1838 | 1853 | 1884[{329}] |
| Thillon, Anna | 1819 | 1838 | 1856 | |
| Lind-Goldschimidt, Jenny | 1820 | 1838 | 1870 | 1887 |
| Harrison, William | 1813 | 1839 | ? | 1868 |
| Reeves, John Sims | 1822 | 1839 | 1891 | |
| Gardoni, Enrico | 1821 | 1840 | 1874 | 1882 |
| Rudersdorff, Mme. Herminie | 1822 | 1840 | 1872 | 1882 |
| Tamberlik, Enrico | 1820 | 1841 | 1877 | 1889 |
| Saiuton-Dolby, Charlotte Helen | 1821 | 1841 | 1870 | 1885 |
| Formes, Karl | 1810 | 1842 | ? | 1889 |
| Weiss, Willoughby Hunter | 1820 | 1842 | 1867 | |
| Alboni, Marietta | 1823 | 1843 | 1871 | 1894 |
| Reichardt, Alexander | 1825 | 1843 | 1857 | |
| Wagner, Johanna | 1828 | 1844 | 1861 | 1894 |
| Ander, Aloys | 1821 | 1845 | 1864 | 1864 |
| Gassier, Edouard | 1822 | 1845 | 1871 | |
| Hayes, Catharine | 1825 | 1845 | 1857 | 1861 |
| Formes, Theodora | 1826 | 1846 | 1864 | |
| Borghi, Adelaide | 1829 | 1846 | 1870 | |
| Bosio, Angiolina | 1830 | 1846 | 1859 | 1859 |
| Cruvelli, Jeanne Sophie Charlotte | 1826 | 1847 | 1855 | |
| Burde-Ney, Jenny | 1826 | 1847 | 1886 | |
| Pyne, Louisa Fanny | 1832 | 1847 | 1868 | ? |
| Cabel, Marie Josephe (née Dreulette) | 1827 | 1849 | 1877 | 1885 |
| Carvalho, Mme. Marie Caroline Félix | 1827 | 1849 | 1882 | 1895 |
| Niemann, Albert | 1831 | 1849 | 1887 | |
| Tietiens, Therese Caroline Johanna | 1831 | 1849 | 1877 | 1877 |
| Nantier-Didier, Constance Betsy Rosabelle | 1831 | 1850 | 1867 | |
| Stockhausen, Julius | 1826 | 1848 | 1870 | |
| Faure, Jean Baptiste | 1830 | 1852 | ||
| Piccolomini, Maria | 1836 | 1852 | 1863 | |
| Parepa-Rosa, Euphrosine de Boyesku | 1836 | 1852 | 1873 | 1874 |
| Bettini, Alessandro | 1830 | 1853 | ||
| Wachtel, Theodor | 1823 | 1854 | 1893 | |
| Sedie, Enrico Delle | 1826 | 1854 | 1870 | [{330}] |
| Phillips, Adelaide | 1833 | 1854 | 1881 | 1882 |
| Wilt, Marie | 1834 | 1857 | 1878 | 1891 |
| Nicolini, Ernest Nicolas | 1834 | 1855 | 1878 | 1898 |
| Betz, Franz | 1835 | 1856 | ||
| Rokitansky, Victor F. von | 1836 | 1856 | 1871 | |
| Peschka-Leutner, Mme. Minna | 1839 | 1856 | 1890 | |
| Giuglini, Antonio | 1826 | 1857 | 1862 | 1865 |
| Fancelli, Giuseppe | 1836 | ? | ? | 1889 |
| Santley, Charles | 1834 | 1857 | ||
| Marimon, Marie | 1839 | 1857 | 1884 | |
| Artôt, Mme. Marguerite Josephine D. M. | 1835 | 1857 | 1887 | |
| Naudin, Emilio | 1823 | 1858 | 1880 | |
| Whitney, Myron W. | 1836 | 1858 | 1897 | |
| Galli-Marié, Mme. Celestine | 1840 | 1859 | ||
| Lucca, Pauline | 1841 | 1859 | 1884 | |
| Patti-Nicolini, Mme. Adelina | 1843 | 1859 | ||
| Trebelli-Bettini, Mme. Zelia | 1838 | 1859 | 1892 | |
| Sherrington, Mme. Lemmens | 1834 | 1860 | ||
| Scaria, Emil | 1838 | 1860 | 1884 | 1886 |
| Krauss, Marie Gabrielle | 1842 | 1860 | ? | |
| Foli, Allan James (Foley) | 1841 | 1861 | ||
| Agnesi, Louis Ferdinand Leopold | 1833 | 1861 | 1871 | |
| Capoul, Joseph Victor Amédée | 1839 | 1861 | 1895 | |
| Patti, Carlotta | 1840 | 1861 | 1880 | 1889 |
| Kellogg, Clara Louise | 1842 | 1861 | 1882 | |
| Murska, Ilma di | 1836 | 1862 | 1878 | 1889 |
| Kraus, Dr. Emil | 1840 | 1889 | ||
| Henschel, Georg | 1850 | 1862 | ||
| Nilsson, Christine | 1843 | 1864 | 1888 | |
| Materna, Amalie (Frau Friedrich) | 1847 | 1864 | 1894 | |
| Patey, Janet Monach | 1842 | 1865 | 1894 | |
| Vogl, Heinrich | 1845 | 1865 | ||
| Vogl, Theresa Thoma | 1846 | 1865 | ||
| Roze, Marie | 1846 | 1865 | ||
| Nachbaur, Franz | 1835 | 1865 | ||
| Lloyd, Edward | 1845 | 1866 | ||
| Adams, Charles R. | 1848 | 1866 | 1879 | [{331}] |
| Scalchi, Sophia | 1850 | 1866 | ||
| Brandt, Marianne | 1842 | 1867 | 1893 | |
| Cary, Annie Louise | 1846 | 1867 | 1882 | |
| Lehmann, Lilli | 1848 | 1868 | ||
| Hauck, Minnie | 1852 | 1868 | 1886 | |
| Vaucorbeil, Anna Sternberg | 1845 | 1869 | 1873 | 1898 |
| Heilbron, Marie | 1849 | 1869 | 1886 | |
| Karl, Thomas | 1847 | 1870 | 1890 | |
| Maurel, Victor | 1845 | 1869 | ||
| Gayarre, Giuliano | 1848 | 1873 | 1890 | |
| Del Puente, Parquale | ? | 1870 | ||
| Schott, Anton | 1846 | 1870 | ||
| Sucher, Rose (Hasselbeck) | 1850 | 1870 | ||
| Albani, Marie L. C. E. Lajeunnesse(Mrs. Ernest Gye) | 1850 | 1870 | ||
| Sterling, Antoinette | 1851 | 1871 | ||
| Campanini, Italo | 1846 | 1871 | 1890 | 1896 |
| Valleria, Alwina Lohmann | 1848 | 1871 | ||
| Pappenheim, Mme. Eugenie | ? | 1872 | ||
| Abbott, Emma (Mrs. Wetherell) | 1850 | 1872 | 1891 | |
| Malten, Thérèse | 1855 | 1873 | ||
| McGuckin, Barton | 1852 | 1874 | ||
| Belocca, Anna di | 1854 | 1874 | ||
| Reicher, Hedwig | 1853 | 1874 | 1883 | |
| Shakespeare, William | 1849 | 1875 | ||
| Thursby, Emma | 1857 | 1875 | ||
| Gaylord, Mrs. Julia | 1852 | 1875 | 1894 | |
| Reszke, Josephine de | 1855 | 1875 | 1884 | 1890 |
| Litta, Marie | 1856 | 1876 | 1883 | 1883 |
| De Reszke, Jean | 1852 | 1874 | ||
| De Reszke, Edouard | 1855 | 1876 | ||
| Klafsky, Katharina | 1855 | 1896 | ||
| Gerster, Etelka | 1856 | 1876 | 1887 | |
| Fursch-Madi, Mme | ? | 1876 | 1894 | |
| Sembrich, Marcella | 1858 | 1877 | ||
| Van Zandt, Marie | 1861 | 1879 | 1898 | |
| Bispham, David Scull | 1857 | 1880 | ||
| Nordica, Giglia (Lillian Norton) | 1856 | 1880 | [{332}] | |
| L'Allemand, Pauline | 1862 | 1880 | ||
| Nevada, Emma (Wixom) | 1862 | 1880 | ||
| Plançon, Pol | 1860 | 1881 | ||
| Juch, Emma | 1863 | 1881 | ||
| Calvé, Emma (Roquer) | 1866 | 1882 | ||
| Russell, Ella | 1862 | 1882 | ||
| Van Dyk, Ernest Marie Hubert | 1861 | 1883 | ||
| Engel, Marie | ? | 1887 | ||
| Melba, Nellie (Mitchell) | 1864 | 1887 | ||
| Ternina, Milka | ? | 1888 | ||
| Eames, Emma | 1867 | 1888 | ||
| Sanderson, Sybil | 1865 | 1889 | ||
| Davies, Ffrançon | ? | 1890 | ||
| Delna, Marie | 1875 | 1892 | ||
| Brema, Marie | ? | 1892 |