A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Thursby, Emma
THURSBY, Emma, born at Brooklyn, New York, Nov. 17, 1857, is the daughter of an Englishman, and is descended by her mother from an old United States family. She received instruction in singing first from Julius Meyer and Achille Erani, then in 1873 at Milan from Lamperti and San Giovanni, and finally completed her studies in America under Madame Rudersdorff. In 1875 she undertook a tour through the United States and Canada. She made her début in England May 22, 1878, at the Philharmonic, with such success that she was engaged at a subsequent concert of the Society in the same season. She remained in England until the end of 1879, singing with acceptance at the Crystal Palace, the Popular Concerts, Leslie's Choir, etc., and in the summer of the same year sang in Paris and the French provinces. In 1880–81 she made an extended concert-tour through Germany, Austria, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Norway, Denmark, etc., and returned to America at the end of 82. In 1883 she was singing in the States and Canada.
Her voice is a soprano, of remarkable compass, ranging from middle C to E♭ above the lines; not large but rich; somewhat veiled, but noble and sympathetic. 'Miss Thursby's technique is extraordinary; her legato and staccato are models of certainty and correctness, her respiration is admirably managed, and her shake as rippling as it is long enduring.'[1]
- ↑ 'Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News.' Oct. 18. 1879; and F. Gumbert. in the Neue Berliner Muslkzeltung.