Deciding, then, to secure the fullest development of her voice, and to gain those acquirements that belong to a technical education, living within a few hours' ride of Boston, she here became first a pupil of Mrs. J. Rametti, and afterwards entered one of the great conservatories, where she was placed under the guidance of Professor O'Neill, a gentleman highly esteemed as a teacher of voice-culture. She had not long been connected with the New-England Conservatory of Music, when its director requested her to appear at the quarterly concerts of that institution that were held in Music Hall. Here on two occasions, before large and highly-cultivated audiences, with beautiful voice, correct method of expression, and ease and grace of stage deportment,—singing, in Italian, music of a high order,—Miss Brown won the most enthusiastic applause. Predictions of her complete success as a brilliant lyric artist were freely made by many connoisseurs. But these have not been her only appearances in Boston. She has many times sung at concerts in the finest music-halls of the city, before many critical audiences; her charming rendition of the numerous English, Italian, French, Scotch, and Irish songs in her rich repertoire making her one of Boston's favorite cantatrices.
In order that the opinions heretofore given in regard to Miss Brown's vocal abilities and artistic accomplishments may be shown not to be exaggerated, I now desire to append some of the notices which her performances have elicited from the press of New England and other sections of the country. And here I am confronted by the first real difficulty that has appeared since I began this sketch; for I have before me nearly one hundred comments, all highly complimentary, only a very small number of which may here be reprinted. To properly arrange and give them all would be an easy and most pleasing task, since the collection forms an unbroken, a delightful series of musical descriptions, interspersed with high but always discreet praise of the artist whose performances, in the main, called them forth; but to be compelled, from want of space, to endeavor to select, from among these many encomiums, only those which, while they do justice to our subject, are yet brief and together varied and interesting, is a duty attended with some embarrassment. Before attempting to do this, I deem it proper to say, that, if printed together, the comments referred to would make a volume of considerable size; which, containing, as it undoubtedly would, the truthful, spontaneous tributes of lovers of art to one of its most faithful and accomplished devotees, might well be considered by herself and many admiring friends as of most inestimable value.
The following have reference to Miss Brown's appearances in Boston during the musical season of 1874:—
Said "The Boston Traveller," April 16,—
"Miss Nellie E. Brown has for some months been the leading soprano at Grace Church, Haverhill, Mass.; which position she has filled with eminent acceptance, and with marked exhibition of artistic powers."
And the same paper at another time said,—
"Miss Brown possesses a very fine voice under excellent culture, and gave with much taste several solos. Noticeably good was her rendering of Torrey's 'La Prima Vera.' In all her selections she exhibited excellent style and finish."
"The Globe," March 31, said,—
"Miss Nellie Brown showed a particularly well-modulated voice, trained study, and appreciative method, which served her well in the pleasant rendering given by her so gracefully and unaffectedly."