File:Bessie Abott by Aimé Dupont.jpg

Identifier: grandoperasinger02lahe (find matches)
Title: The grand opera singers of to-day : an account of the leading operatic stars who have sung during recent years, together with a sketch of the chief operatic enterprises
Year: 1912 (1910s)
Authors: Lahee, Henry Charles, 1856-1953
Subjects: Singers Opera
Publisher: Boston : L. C. Page
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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re is a great public, — a hugepublic, — beyond the reach of such opera com-panies as can afford to employ the greatsingers. This public wishes to hear the greatsingers. One who has made a reputation inopera, as Nordica, Schumann-Heink, andBispham, mentioned in this article, or, notably,Bonci of the present day, can find better com-pensation, with less wear and tear, by headinghis own concert company, than by singing ingrand opera. At the time when these singerstake to the concert room they have become al-most impossible for the operatic manager, onaccount of their financial demands on the onehand, and the public desire for new singers onthe other. It is said that Signor Bonci in one season ofconcert work made no less a sum than $160,000,in 1911 and 1912. Under the circumstanceswhy should Signor Bonci sing in opera? Bessie Abott, one of Conrieds stars, thoughborn at Ogdensburg, New York, is a memberof a prominent Southern family. Misfortuneovertook the family when Miss Abott was on
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Copyright by Aime Dupont BESSIE ABOTT The Metropolitan Opera-House 55 the threshold of young womanhood, and she,with her sister, was obliged to make her ownliving. Being gifted with some musical talentthe two young women sought and secured en-gagements in vaudeville, and were known as The Twin Sisters, — Bessie and Jessie.They played their own accompaniments, Bessieon the banjo, and Jessie on the guitar, and theysang l coon songs, with such success that theywere all the rage. In 1898 they secured an engagement at theEmpire Theatre in London, and sailed for thatcity full of hope, for the Empire is the summitof the ambition of the vaudeville artist. On board of the same steamer among thepassengers was Jean de Reszke, and he, hear-ing Bessie sing at the customary ships concert,was so impressed with her voice, that when theconcert was over he stepped forward and in-troduced himself. In London he heard her singagain, and then gave her a letter of introductionto Madame Freda Ashforth of N

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