Woman of the Century/Emma Cecilia Thursby

THURSBY, Miss Emma Cecilia, singer, born in Brooklyn, N. Y., 21st February, 1857. She was educated in the public schools of the city, and early showed her musical tastes. EMMA CECILIA THURSBY. Her fine voice attracted the attention of musical people and they advised her to prepare for a professional career. She learned the rudiments of music with Julius Meyer, and studied later with Achille Errant and Erminia Rudersdorff. In 1873 she went to Italy and took a short course with San Giovanni and Francesco Lamperti. Returning to New York, she sang in the Broadway Tabernacle for a time. In 1876 she made a concert tour with Gilmore's Orchestra. In 1877 she traveled with Theodore Thomas. In that year she signed an engagement for six years with Maurice Strakosch, under whose management she made a number of very successful tours in the United States and Europe. She has appeared only in concerts and oratorios, and has declined many tempting offers to go upon the operatic stage in Europe. Her specialty is sacred music, and she is the leading oratorio singer of her day. She is a woman of commanding presence. Her voice is a soprano of great volume and purity, and her singing is characterized by dramatic intensity and thorough refinement in method.