Woman of the Century/Lillian Norton Gower

GOWER, Mrs. Lillian Norton, opera singer, widely known by her stage-name, "Lillian Nordica," born in Farmington, Maine, in 18 — . When she was five years old, her parents removed to Boston, Mass., where she studied in the New England Conservatory of Music. After graduating she made an extensive concert tour of the United States, singing with the Handel and Haydn Society and with Theodore Thomas's Orchestra. She visited Europe with Gilmore's Band, and there won distinction as a singer. She decided to remain in Europe and to prepare for an operatic career. She studied in Milan with San Giovanni. In six weeks she learned ten operas completely. She sang in opera in Brescia, Aquila and Genoa. In St. Petersburg, Russia, she won her first great triumph as Filina in " Mignon " In 1881 she went to Paris. She made her debut in that city as Marguerite in Gounod's "Faust," where she scored one of the most brilliant triumphs on record. Mrs. Gower is not only a great singer, but a great actor as well. She sang in Her Majesty's Theater, in London, LILLIAN NORTON GOWER. England, for three years. She returned to the United States with the reputation of one of the great queens of the lyric stage. She has a repertory of forty grand operas at her command. She became the wife, in London, of Mr. Gower, a man of wealth. Her husband disappeared in a tragic manner. He made a balloon ascension from Fans, and balloon and men were never heard from afterward. Mrs. Norton's latest triumphs have been won in Covent Garden, London.