Lillian Nordica, one of the most popular of American prima donnas, was
born in Farmingdale, Maine, in 1859, her family name being Norton. Her
musical education began early and was of a very thorough sort. After
a period spent in local public schools, she became a student in the
New England conservatory, her teacher being John O’Neil. Later she
studied under San Giovanni at Milan, Italy. After preliminary work in
concerts abroad, she made her operatic début at Brescia, Italy, in La
Traviata, and scored instantaneously and emphatically. In 1887 she
made a successful appearance in London, and later visited Paris, St.
Petersburg and other European capitals. In each and every instance she
repeated her initial successes. She has been twice married, her first
husband being a Mr. Gower, and her second Herr Zoltan Done. The prima
donna’s repertoire embraces the leading rôles of forty operas, and
includes nearly all the standard oratorios. She is best known to the
public in connection with Wagnerian parts, and has appeared in grand
opera in this country on several occasions. Mme. Nordica has a charming
personality, and her professional successes have by no means estranged
her from the friends of her childhood.