Woman of the Century/Alice May Bates Rice

RICE, Mrs. Alice May Bates, soprano singer, born in Boston, Mass., 14th September, 1868. Her parents were both well known in the musical profession, and her ancestors on both sides were musical for a number of generations. Mrs. Rice's father possessed a baritone voice of rare quality and held positions in quartette choirs, musical societies and clubs in and around Boston, until a few years before his death, in 1886. Her mother was a thoroughly cultured and earnest teacher of music. Mrs. Rice was nurtured in an atmosphere of music and was a singer by birth as well as by tuition. Her d£but in Chickering Hall, Boston, in September, 18S3, was a brilliant event During her first season she appeared in several operas, which Charles R. Adams, with whom she studied rendition, brought out, assuming the prima donna roles in "Martha." "Figaro," "Maritana," "La Sonnambula," "La Fille du Regiment," "Faust," and "Lucia di Lammermoor." She was the prima donna, subsequently, of the Maritana Opera Company and appeared with than for several seasons in the leading cities in New England and Canada. ALICE MAY BATES RICE. She sang in many concerts for the Philharmonic Orchestra of Boston and for Seidl's New York Orchestra She has held positions in quartette choirs in Lowell and Worcester, Mass., and in her own city, leaving a lucrative one for her recent tour with Remenyi, with whom she traveled through the South and West for one-hundred-fifty concerts in seven months. She exemplifies the opinion of many that an American girl can be educated and achieve success without European study, believing it better that young girl students should have the influence of home and the protection of parents.