Emma Fursch-Madi
Encyclopedia
Emma Fursch-Madi was a renowned French operatic soprano. She was born at Bayonne
, France, studied at the Paris Conservatory and made her debut at the Paris Opera
in 1871 in Gounod
’s Faust. At the end of her second season at the Grand Opera, she was chosen by Verdi
to be the first representative of Aida
in Europe. It opened at the Theatre Royal in Brussels and was a great success, running for 72 straight performances.
In 1879, Fursch-Madi appeared at the Covent Garden
, and the London Globe called her “…greatest dramatic prima donna of the present day.” In 1882, she came to the United States, where she appeared under the management of James Henry Mapleson
at the Academy of Music in New York City. She performed for the first season of the new Metropolitan Opera House
in New York in 1883–84. She became a permanent fixture in various musical capacities in the United States; she was for a while the head of Jeannette Thurber
’s National Conservatory
, and a member of the short-lived American Opera Company
. Her last appearance was as Ortrud in Wagner
’s Lohengrin on 6 February 1894, at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. She died in Warrenville
, New Jersey.
Bayonne
Bayonne is a city and commune in south-western France at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture...
, France, studied at the Paris Conservatory and made her debut at the Paris Opera
Paris Opera
The Paris Opera is the primary opera company of Paris, France. It was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV as the Académie d'Opéra and shortly thereafter was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and renamed the Académie Royale de Musique...
in 1871 in Gounod
Charles Gounod
Charles-François Gounod was a French composer, known for his Ave Maria as well as his operas Faust and Roméo et Juliette.-Biography:...
’s Faust. At the end of her second season at the Grand Opera, she was chosen by Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
to be the first representative of Aida
Aida
Aida sometimes spelled Aïda, is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette...
in Europe. It opened at the Theatre Royal in Brussels and was a great success, running for 72 straight performances.
In 1879, Fursch-Madi appeared at the Covent Garden
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
, and the London Globe called her “…greatest dramatic prima donna of the present day.” In 1882, she came to the United States, where she appeared under the management of James Henry Mapleson
James Henry Mapleson
James Henry Mapleson was an English opera impresario, probably the leading figure instrumental in the development of opera production, and of the careers of singers, in London and New York City in the second half of the 19th century.-Life and career:Mapleson was born in London, England...
at the Academy of Music in New York City. She performed for the first season of the new Metropolitan Opera House
Metropolitan Opera House (39th St)
The Metropolitan Opera House was an opera house located at 1411 Broadway in New York City. Opened in 1883 and demolished in 1967, it was the first home of the Metropolitan Opera Company.-History:...
in New York in 1883–84. She became a permanent fixture in various musical capacities in the United States; she was for a while the head of Jeannette Thurber
Jeannette Thurber
Jeanette Thurber was amongst the first major patrons of classical music in the United States. She was the daughter of Henry Meyers, an immigrant violinist from Copenhagen, Denmark and Annamarie Coffin Price...
’s National Conservatory
National Conservatory of Music of America
The National Conservatory of Music of America was an institution for higher education in music founded in 1885 in New York City by Jeannette Meyers Thurber...
, and a member of the short-lived American Opera Company
American Opera Company
The American Opera Company was the name of four different opera companies active in the United States. The first company was a short-lived opera company founded in New York City in February, 1886 that lasted only one season...
. Her last appearance was as Ortrud in Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
’s Lohengrin on 6 February 1894, at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. She died in Warrenville
Warren Township, New Jersey
Warren Township is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 15,311....
, New Jersey.