It was in Jubilee Year that the British public were first charmed by the
singing of this admirable American contralto. She sang in London, and
successive audiences were quick to confirm the judgments of Sir Joseph
Barnby and certain other critics who had heard her only in private. Her
advance to the front rank of English singers was exceedingly rapid, and
her position amongst us was long since made secure. Madame Cole has
taken part in nearly all the great musical events in this country during
the past four years. She has sung everywhere in London--with the Royal
Choral Society at the Albert Hall, at the Handel Festival at the Crystal
Palace, at the Ballad Concerts, at the Monday Popular Concerts, at Sir
Charles Hallé's Concerts, and at Bristol, Chester, Leeds, Birmingham,
and other leading towns. As seems to have been the case with most
well-dowered musicians, Madame Cole's talent owes something to heredity.
Musical ability, greater or less, may at all events be traced back in
her family for a considerable period. Madame Cole's first distinct
success in public was gained with Mr. Theodore Thomas, during that
gentleman's first "grand transcontinental tour from ocean to ocean"
in 1883.
[Illustration: AGE 8.
_From a Photograph._]
[Illustration: AGE 20.
_From a Photo. by Naegeli, New York._]
[Illustration: PRESENT DAY.
_From a Photo. by Walery, Regent Street._]