The British Musical Biography

[E] La Jeunesse, Marie Louise Cecilia
Emma, or Albani, soprano vocalist, born of
French-Canadian parentage, at Chambly,
near Montreal, in 1850. Received her first
instruction in music from her father, an ac-
complished harpist, and studied at Albany,
New York, whither the family removed, in
1864. While there she decided to adopt the
profession of singing ; and when she made
her dchut at Messina, in 1870, she appeared
under the name of Albani. Previously she
had studied at Paris, under Duprez, and at
Milan under Lamperti. After singing in
various places in Italy, she went to London,
and made her first appearance at Covent
Garden Opera House, April 2, 1872, as Amina,
in ' La Sonnambula," and, with few excep-
tions, has sung there every year since that
time. Her repertory is very extensive, em-
bracing the principal soprano parts in Lucia
di Lammermoor, Faust, Mignon, Rigoletto,
Flying Dutchman, Lohengrin, Tannhauser,
Tristan, and others, her latest addition being
the part of Donna Anna in " Don Giovanni."
July 23, 1896. She has sung in opera at Paris,
Brussels, Berlin, etc. Her Festival debut was
made at Norwich, in 1872. The next year
she sang at Birmingham, and at every suc-
ceeding Festival ; at the Three Choirs, since
1877, at Gloucester (with two exceptions) ;
at Bristol, from 1870; and at Leeds, 1877.
She has been heard at all the principal con-
certs ; has made several tours in Canada, and
the United States, and alike in oratorio, opera,
and ballad, has held a commanding position.
From 1885 onward, she has frequently sung
before the Queen, who has more than once
visited her at Old Mar Lodge. In 1878, she
married Mr. Ernest Gye.

entry id: 236-L-55