The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Abbott, Emma

ABBOTT, Emma (Wetherell), American dramatic soprano: b. Chicago, Ill., December 1849; d. Salt Lake City, 5 Jan. 1891. Beginning her musical career in Plymouth Church choir, Brooklyn, N. Y., she studied abroad with Sangiovanni at Milan and with Delled Sedie, Wartel, and James at Paris; then joined Mapleson's troupe, made her début at Covent Garden, London, toured three years in Great Britain, and returning to the United States joined the Emma Abbott English Opera Company. She sang in ‘Martha,’ ‘The Chimes of Normandy,’ ‘Faust,’ and other popular operas and was one of the best known singers in America in her day. Consult Lahee, H. C., ‘Famous Singers of To-day and Yesterday’ (Boston 1898).