A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Wixom, Emma

WIXOM, Emma (Mme. Nevada), born in 1862, at Austen, Nevada, U.S.A., from which territory she has taken her professional name. She learnt singing at Vienna under Mme. Marchesi. On May 17, 1880, she made her first appearance on the stage, at Her Majesty's Theatre, as Amina. Although praised for the freshness of her voice, and for her evident intelligence and earnestness, her appearance in such an important character was considered premature, and she did not re-appear. In Italy she had better fortune, and after singing there in various places, made her first appearance May 17, 1883, at the Opéra Comique, Paris, as Mysoli on the revival of 'La Perle du Brésil' (Felicien David), and was favourably received in that, and Sept. 28 in Mignon. In 1884 she sang as Lucia at the Italiens. She was engaged at the Norwich Festival of 1884, and on the whole made a decided success, especially in Mackenzie's 'Rose of Sharon' (Oct. 16), and at the miscellaneous concerts, but in the soprano music of 'Elijah' she was overweighted. On Nov. 7 she sang in the 'Rose of Sharon' at the Sacred Harmonic Society on its production in London. During the winter of 1884 she sang in the United States in Italian opera. On Oct. 1, 1885, she married at Paris Dr. Raymond Palmer. She was announced for a concert tour in America for the winter of 1885, and is now (1887) in Mapleson's Opera Company at Covent Garden.

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