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ADELINA PATTI (19 February 1843 – 27 September 1919) Soprano Her voice was noticed very early and she nade her first tour in America at the age of seven years and was a huge success. Studied singing in New York under the direction of Maurice Strakosch, her brother-in-law, and in 1859 she sang in New York in Lucia di Lammermoor. At Covent Garden theatre in London in 1861 where she sang la Sonnambula, her reputation was strengthened and in 1862 she was singing in Paris at the Théâtre Italien, where she soon became the star. She remained at Paris until 1870, being heard in London during the summer season. In Paris she sang the Italian Repertory, in London the french Repertory. After a long stay in America and London, Patti returned several times to Paris at the Opera (debut in 1874) and the Théâtre de la Gaîté. Then she resumed travels and successfully created, in London, in 1882, the Charles Lenepveu's Velléda. She also created Dolores of André Pollonais in Nice on February 22, 1897. She triumphed especially in a vast Italian repertoire that suited to her beautiful light soprano voice. His career lasted for fifty-six years.

ADELINA PATTI (19 February 1843 – 27 September 1919) Soprano Her voice was noticed very early and she nade her first tour in America at the age of seven years and was a huge success. Studied singing in New York under the direction of Maurice Strakosch, her brother-in-law, and in 1859 she sang in New York in Lucia di Lammermoor. At Covent Garden theatre in London in 1861 where she sang la Sonnambula, her reputation was strengthened and in 1862 she was singing in Paris at the Théâtre Italien, where she soon became the star. She remained at Paris until 1870, being heard in London during the summer season. In Paris she sang the Italian Repertory, in London the french Repertory. After a long stay in America and London, Patti returned several times to Paris at the Opera (debut in 1874) and the Théâtre de la Gaîté. Then she resumed travels and successfully created, in London, in 1882, the Charles Lenepveu's Velléda. She also created Dolores of André Pollonais in Nice on February 22, 1897. She triumphed especially in a vast Italian repertoire that suited to her beautiful light soprano voice. His career lasted for fifty-six years.

Emilie Melville as Violetta "'La Traviata" EMILIE MELVILLE 1850-1932 American Soprano/Actress Emilie was only five years old when she played the Duke of York to Edwin Forrest's Richard III in Providence, Rhode Island, the Philadelphian was a popular child star in Louisville and elsewhere on what was called the “Western” circuit. She moved to San Francisco in 1868 and for the next sixty years remained one of its most beloved singers. Much of her early success was as the prima donna of contemporary comic operas, but Melville also earned acclaim for her Ophelia and other dramatic interpretations. As late as the 1920s she played important older parts with the Alcazar Theatre's famous stock company and at other local playhouses

MAX ALVERY (Maximilian Achenbach) (May 3, 1856 – November 7, 1898), German tenor. Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, he was the son of the painter Andreas Achenbach, over whose initial objections he pursued his singing career. He studied in Frankfurt with Julius Stockhausen, and in Milan with Francesco Lamperti. He had a fine dramatic voice and a handsome stage presence, and speedily made a reputation in Germany in the leading roles in Wagnerian opera. From 1885 onwards he also appeared in America and England. On November 9, 1887, Alvary appeared as the title character in the United States premiere of Wagner's Siegfried at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Vividly embodying Siegfried's youth and fiery individualism, the tenor created a sensation and became an idol of New York opera goers until his departure in 1889. In 1892, his performances as Tristan und Isolde and Siegfried at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, aroused great enthusiasm. In October 1894, he was seriously injured in a fall while rehearsing Siegfried at Mannheim and never fully recovered; he retired from the stage in 1897.Alvary died in Großtabarz, Thuringia, Germany, in 1898.

Jean Francois Delmas as Duc de Guise in "Roi de Paris" Hue CREATOR ROLE PALAIS GARNEIR 26/4/1901 JEAN FRANCIS DELMAS Lyon, April 14, 1861-73.Saint - Alban-de-Monthel, 29 September 1933). French Bass Debut September 28, 1886 in LES HUGUENOTS (Saint-Bris). Sings the FREISCHÜTZ (Gaspard, 1886), AIDA (the King), FAUST (Mephistopheles) in 1887. DON JUAN (Leporello, 1887; don Juan, 1902), SIGURD (Hagen, 1891), William TELL (Gessler), the Sicilian (Connie) in 1892. OTHELLO (Iago, 1894), TANNHÄUSER (Landgrave, 1895); Romeo and Juliet (brother Laurent), fatherland! (de Rysoor), LE CID (don Diego), ALCESTE (high priest) in 1900; HENRY VIII (Henry VIII, 1903), ARMIDE (Hidraot, 1905), the DAMNATION of FAUST (Mephistopheles, 1906), SAMSON ET DALILA (high priest), HIPPOLYTE and ARICIE (Thésée) in 1908. ŒDIPE A column (Oedipus),. BRISEIS (Strakokles) in 1916. Is the creator of LA DAME DE MONSOREAU (Monsoreau), ROMEO ET JULIETTE (Capulet), ZAIRE (Jeanette); on March 16, 1891 LE MAGE (Amrou) de Jules Massenet LOHENGRIN (King), SALAMMBÔ (Nar-Havas), die WALKÜRE (Wotan). on March 16, 1894 THAÏS (Athanaël) by Jules Massenet; HELLE (Gautier), MESSIDOR (Mathias),LES MAITRES CHANTEURS DE NUREMBERG (Hans Sachs), BURGONE (Attila), JOSEPH (Jacob), ASTARTE (Phur); on April 26, 1901LE ROI DE PARIS (Henri, Duke of Guise) of Georges Hüe. THE LES BARBARES (Scaurus), SIEGFRIED (Wotan), ORSOLA (Bishop), bench (Tonio),LA STATUE (Arnigiad), L’ETRANGER (l'Etranger), LE FILS DE L'l'ETOILE (Akiba), TRISTAN & ISOLDE (Kurwenal), DARIA (Yvan),LA GLOIRE DE CORNEILLE (Auguste), ARIANE (Parithoils), LA CATALANE (Miguel), Twilight of the gods (Hagen), MONNA VANNA (Marco), RHEINGOLD (Wotan), LA Forêt (Pierre), ICARE (Daedalus), ROMA (Fabius), FERVAAL (Arfagard), PARSIFAL (Gurnemanz), L'OURAGAN (Gervais), La Roman le ESTELLE (Rubini), La GIRONDINS (Fonfrède), JEANNE d'Arc (Jacques d'Arc), INTERMEDE (Pierre Dupont), La Legende of SAINT Christoph (the hermit), ANTAR (Malek), LA FILLE DE ROLAND (Charlemagne), LES BURGRAVES (the beggar). Participated in the first performance December 24, 1923 of ESCLARMONDE (Emperor Phorcas) by Jules Massenet. He created at the Nouveau-Théâtre 26 April 1906 le Clown (Barbazan) of Isaac de Camondo.

Emma Calve as Carmen 'Carmen" Bizet EMMA CALVE (Rosa Emma Calvet de Noëmie Roquer) (August 15, 1858 – January 6, 1942), French Soprano Her operatic debut occurred on September 23, 1881, in Gounod's Faust at Brussels' La Monnaie. Later she sang at La Scala in Milan, and also at the principal theatres of Naples, Rome, and Florence. Returning to Paris in 1891, she created the part of Suzel in L'amico Fritz by Pietro Mascagni, playing and singing the role later at Rome. Because of her great success in it, she was chosen to appear[citation needed] as Santuzza in the French premiere of Cavalleria rusticana, which was viewed as one of her greatest parts. She repeated her success in it in London. Her next triumph was Bizet's Carmen. Before beginning the study of this part, she went to Spain, learned the Spanish dances, mingled with the people and patterned her characterization after the cigarette girls whom she watched at their work and at play. In 1894, she made her appearance in the role at the Opéra-Comique, Paris. The city's opera-goers immediately hailed her as the greatest Carmen that had ever appeared, a verdict other cities would later echo. She had had many famous predecessors in the role, including Adelina Patti, Minnie Hauk and Célestine Galli-Marié, but critics and musicians agreed that in Calvé they had found their ideal of Bizet's cigarette girl of Seville. Calvé first appeared in America in the season of 1893–1894 as Mignon. She would make regular visits to the country, both in grand opera and in concert tours. After making her Metropolitan Opera debut as Santuzza, she went on to appear a total of 261 times with the company between 1893 and 1904. She created the part of Anita, which was written for her, in Massenet's La Navarraise in London in 1894 and sang Sapho in an opera written by the same composer. She sang Ophélie in Ambroise Thomas's Hamlet in Paris in 1899, but the part was not suited to her and she dropped it. She appeared with success in many roles, among them, as the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro, the title role in Félicien David's Lalla-Rookh, as Pamina in The Magic Flute, and as Camille in Hérold's Zampa, but she is best known as Carmen .

MINNIE HAUK (Amalia Mignon Hauck) (November 16, 1851 – February 6, 1929), American Soprano. In 1862, Hauk began vocal studies with Achille Errani, who secured her a spot with the operatic company of Max Maretzek. At age fourteen she made her debut in Brooklyn as Amina in La sonnambula, and a month later, in November, 1866, her New York City debut as Prascovia in L'étoile du nord. In the American premiere of Gounod's Roméo et Juliette (1867) she sang Juliette. Hauk sang at Covent Garden, London, on 26 October 1868, and debuted in Paris in 1869. The soprano then appeared in Italian and German opera at the Grand Opera in Vienna and other venues throughout Europe. Hauk was the first American Carmen (1878) and Manon (1885). Her voice became a mezzo-soprano of great strength and depth. Hauk's enormous repertory included approximately one hundred roles, and she sang Carmen in four languages.

MARGUERITE UGLADE 1860-1942 French Mezzo Soprano Daughter of the singer and theater manager Delphine Ugalde. After studies in Paris with her mother, her first professional engagement was in 1879 at Étretat; she made her debut at the Opéra Comique on 19 April 1880 as Marie in La fille du régiment. She created the roles of Mnazile in Le Bois (11 October 1880) and Nicklausse in the first performance of Les contes d'Hoffmann by Offenbach in 1881. On the 18 November 1881, before the unveiling of a bust of Offenbach Ugalde and Adèle Isaac sang, and encored, the barcarolle from Hoffmann. After this short period at the Opéra Comique Ugalde moved over to operetta, both in Paris and elsewhere. At the Théâtre des Nouveautés she created Manola in Le Jour et la Nuit (5 November 1881), Wladimir in Fatinitza (6 April 1882), Falka in Le droit d'aînesse (27 January 1883), Stenio Strozzi in L’Oiseau bleu (16 January 1884), Denisette in Le Petit Chaperon rouge (1885) and Rosette in Serment d'amour (1886). She sang the first D’Artagnan in Les petits mousquetaires (5 March 1885) at the Théâtre des Folies-Dramatiques, as well as, after a serious illness, triumphing as René Belamour in Suppé’s Juanita. At the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens (from 1887), where her mother had taken over the management, she gave first performances in several other operettas. Ugalde toured Belgium in 1888 and 1889 before returning to the Nouveautés as Jovaline in Le Royaume des Femmes (28 February 1889). At the Théâtre du Gymnase, she created Colinette in the comic play L'art de tromper les femmes (7 October 1890), following this with Koudjé in Mon oncle Barbassou (6 November 1891). In the vaudeville operetta Vingt-huit jours de Clairette she sang the title role (Folies-Dramatiques, 3 May 1892) and also appeared in a revival of Juanita. Further successes at the Théâtre des Variétés followed (Fragoletto in Les brigands, 1893) and as Joseph in Gamin de Paris at the Théâtre des Nations. She played Nicole in Le bourgeois gentilhomme (1904) and Toinette in Le malade imaginaire (1905) in productions of Molière at the Gaité. In 1908 she played Mme Brémont in Le Jouet at the Théâtre Femina.

SIR GEORGE HENSCHEL (Isidor George Henschel ) (18 February 1850 – 10 September 1934) German-born British baritone, pianist, conductor, and composer. Born at Breslau, in Silesia, now part of Poland, then part of Germany, of Polish-Jewish parentage .His first appearance (1877) in England was as a singer, and there he and his wife inaugurated (c.1880) the song recital. In 1881 he became the Boston Symphony Orchestra's first conductor. He returned to England in 1884 and was professor of singing (1886—88) at the Royal College of Music, London. He founded (1886) the London Symphony Concerts, which he conducted until they ceased in 1897. In his musical compositions, which include operas, songs, choral works, and instrumental music, he was strongly influenced by Brahms and Wagner. He married the American soprano, Lilian June Bailey (1860-1901), who was associated with him in a number of vocal recitals throughout the United States and nearly all Europe until 1884. He was knighted in 1914 and at a farewell concert that year, was presented with a lute engraved with "A token of gratitude for forty years' song". He taught at the Institute of Musical Art in New York, .

POL PLANCON (Pol Henri Plançon ) (12 June 1851 – 11 August 1914) French Bass Debut June 25, 1883 in FAUST (Mephistopheles). Sang LES HUGUENOTS (Saint-Bris, 1883 ; Marcel, 1892), L’AFRICAINE (don Diego, 1883 ; don Pedro, 1885 ; Grand Brahmine, 1886), LE PROPHETE (Oberthal), LE FREISCHÜTZ (Gaspard), HENRY VIII (de Norfolk) en 1883 ; SAPHO (Pithéas, 1884) ; GUILLAUME TELL (Gessler, 1885 ; Walter, 1888 ; Melchtal, 1892), RIGOLETTO (Sparafucile), SIGURD (Hagen) en 1885 ; LE CID (don Diègue, 1886), PATRIE ! (Duc d'Albe, 1887) ; HAMLET (le Roi), LA JUIVE (Brogni) en 1888 ; ROMÉO ET JULIETTE (Frère Laurent, 1889) ; LOHENGRIN (le Roi), LA FAVORITE (Balthazar) en 1891. A créé LE CID (don Gormas) le 30 novembre 1885 et ASCANIO (François Ier).

EMMA FELICE MAUDUIT (Rennes, 04 July 1845-). French Soprano Debut salle Le Peletier November 17, 1865 in ROBERT LE DIABLE (Alice). She appeared there in LA JUIVE (Rachel); THE FREISCHÜTZ (Agathe); DON CARLOS (Eboli); LA FIANCÉE DE CORINTHE (Daphne). She participated in the first performance March 03, 1869 of FAUST (Siebel). She performed at the Palais Garnier in ,LE PROPHÈTE (Berthe), HAMLET (Queen), FAUST (Siebel), LE FREISCHÜTZ (Annette), L'AFRICAINE (Selika) and DON JUAN (Elvire), and it created in 1874 L'ESCLAVE (Paula) of E. Membered. She left the Opera in 1875

ALICE GOMEZ-WEBB (1865Calcutta India-1922 Devon England) Anglo Indian Contralto Concert and Oratorio singer Alice Gomez received her earliest instruction in music from her elder sister and continued her studies with Antonio Niccolini , Conductor of the Calcutta opera . She later became a pupil of Mr Webb the organist at Calcutta Cathedral , whom she married . After 5 years of study he encouraged her to adopt singing as a profession and they travelled to England.Mr Kube after hearing her sing obtained and engagement for her to sing with Patti at Albert Hall .She sang at the Covent Garden promenarde concerts and elswhere in England with Edward Lloyd , Antionette Sterling , Sims Reeves and other notables.She never appeared in the USA or on the Continent

Emma Elsner as 'Prince Orloffsky in 'Die Fledermaus" Strauss Emma Elsner (Emma Von Elsner) 1864-1923 American Mezzo Soprano Her father was a native of Germany, from a minor noble family, and her mother was the daughter of William Dimmitt, an early Illinois pioneer and one of the first settlers of Bloomington. Both parents were musically talented, younger sister of Marie Litta (Marie Eugenia Von Elsner ) 1856-1883.Performed mainly in Comic opera , Sang with the Von Elsner Opera Company, Hess Acme Opera Co and McCaull Opera Company touring the USA . Sang in "Faust" by Gounod , "Boccaccio" by von Suppe ,"Die Fledermaus" by Strauss ,"The Chimes of Normandy" by Planquette, "Les noces d'Olivette" by Audran , "Patience" by Gilbert & Sullivan and "The Widow by Lavallee "

Mark Smith as Eisenstein in 'Die Fledermaus" Strauss MARK SMITH (1855 Alabama -??) American Baritone Performed chiefly in operetta in Boston and Chicago & Philadelhia INFORMATION THANKS TO GOTTFRIED "Mark Smith one of the most popular baritones on the comic opera stage of this country has in addition to a voice which is resonant flexible and unusually pleasing an agreeable presence essential qualities for light opera He has also had an excellent experience not only here but in Europe and his father and grandfather were actors so that he is particularly well equipped for his profession Born at Mobile Ala in 1855 it may fairly be assumed that he is not yet in the fullness of his power He has sung constantly stnce he was eleven years of age He was educated in France and in Italy an opportunity by which he profited in the acquirement of several languages He made his first appearance on the regular stage in 1876 as a member of McVicker's stock company in Chicago Here he did everything from the carrying a banner as a supernumerary to the playing of principal parts an experience which has since served him in good stead In the following year he went to Europe and sang a season of Italian opera in Russia Returning to America he played at the Chestnut Street Theatre Philadelphia where the influence of a splendid company of artists encouraged him in his chosen career In 1880 he commenced an engagement with CD Hey then in the zenith of his popularity and played in a repertoire of over forty operas ranging from La Mascotte to Faust After three years of incessant travel and consequent hard work he joined the forces of Colonel McCaull at the Casino New York city singing in The Beggar Student Die Fledermaus The Black Hussar and other similar operas When Mr Rudolph Aronson assumed the control of the Casino Mr Smith continued at that house and among other characters played that of Ravannes in Erminie many hundred times Within recent years he has sung in The Sea King The Mikado and Miss Helyett In the production at Palmer's Theatre New York of 1492 he sang the role of Columbus a part which he was induced to relinquish for that of the hero of The Rainmaker of Syria at his old home the Casino Mr Smith whose portrait appears on page 517 has joined The Algerian company and will be again seen in New York when Mr Reginald De Koven's new comic opera receives its metropolitan production." The Illustrated American Volume 14, page 535, October 28, 1893

AGNES HUNTINGTON-CRAVATH (13 August 1862 Kalamazoo -10 April1953 New York City) American Contralto Studied with Lamperti , Performed in Opera and on the Concert platform , Toured USA , Leipzic, Stuttgart and Berlin . Married 1892 to Lawyer Paul Drennan Cravath . Founded the Little Theatre Opera Group

Emilie Melville as Arline "The Bohemian Girl" Balfe EMILIE MELVILLE 1850-1932 American Soprano/Actress Emilie was only five years old when she played the Duke of York to Edwin Forrest's Richard III in Providence, Rhode Island, the Philadelphian was a popular child star in Louisville and elsewhere on what was called the “Western” circuit. She moved to San Francisco in 1868 and for the next sixty years remained one of its most beloved singers. Much of her early success was as the prima donna of contemporary comic operas, but Melville also earned acclaim for her Ophelia and other dramatic interpretations. As late as the 1920s she played important older parts with the Alcazar Theatre's famous stock company and at other local playhouses

WILLIAM H LAWTON (1829 NYC - ????) American Tenor Married to Henrietta Beebe

WILLIAM H LAWTON (1829 NYC - ????) American Tenor Married to Henrietta Beebe