Woman of the Century/Emma Johanna Antonia Juch

JUCH, Miss Emma Johanna Antonia, operatic singer, born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, 4th July, 1863. Her father, Justin Juch, was a music professor. He was a native of Vienna, but had become a citizen of the United States. In Detroit, Mich., he was married to Miss Augusta Hahn. Emma was born during a visit made by her parents in Vienna. When she was six months old, her parents returned to the United States and made their home in New York City. Emma was a precocious child. She passed through the public-school course and was graduated in the Normal in 1879. Her father recognized her musical talents, but did not encourage her to cultivate them, as he was opposed to her entering the professional field. She inherited her fine voice from her French-Hanoverian mother, and decided to pursue her musical studies in secret. She studied for three years with Madame Murio-Celli, and made her début in a concert in Chickering Hall. Her father was among her auditors, and he listened to her singing with surprise. Her triumph was EMMA JOHANNA ANTONIA JUCH. perfect. Her father then encouraged her to pursue the study of music, and for two years she was subjected to the severest discipline. Her pure, strong soprano voice gained in power and flexibility. In May, 1881, Colonel Mapleson engaged her to sing leading soprano rôles in Her Majesty's Grand Italian Opera in London, England. There she made her debut as Filina in "Mignon" and won a brilliant triumph, in June, 1881. She then appeared as Violetta in "Traviata," as Queen of Night in "Magic Flute," as Martha in "Martha," as Marguerite in "Faust," as the queen in "Les Huguenots," and as Isabella in "Robert le Diable." She sang during three seasons under Colonel Mapleson's management. When her contract lapsed, she refused to renew it. William Steinway, of New York City, introduced her to Theodore Thomas, and she accepted from his manager an offer to share the work of Nilsson and Materna on the tour of the Wagnerian artists, Materna, Scaria and Winkelmann. Miss Juch sang alternate nights with Nilsson as Elsa in "Lohengrin." She won a series of triumphs on that tour. When the American Opera Company was formed, she was the first artist engaged. Many tempting offers were made to her, but she decided to remain with the American Opera Company. During three seasons with that company she sang in six rôles and one-hundred-sixty-four times. The operas presented were "Magic Flute," "Lohengrin," "The Flying Dutchman," Gluck's "Orpheus," Rubinstein's "Nero," and Gounod's "Faust." During the past four or five years she has been constantly before the public in festivals, orchestral symphonic concerts and the German choral societies, and in the Emma Juch Grand English Opera Company. The Aschenbroedel Verein of professional orchestral musicians recently conferred upon her the unusual compliment of honorary membership, in return for her services given in aid of the society's sick fund. Miss Juch possesses a fine stage presence, a powerful and cultured voice. Her fine singing is coupled with equally fine acting. Her home is in New York City.