Albani, Emma (c. 1847–1930)

French-Canadian soprano and first Canadian artist to achieve international fame. Born Marie Louise Cécile Lajeunesse in Chambly near Montreal, Canada, on September 27 or November 1, probably in 1847; died in London, England, on April 3, 1930; eldest daughter of Joseph Lajeunesse and Mélinda Mignault; studied with Gilbert-Louis Duprez and François Benoist; married Ernest Gye, in 1878; children: one son, Frederick Ernest (b. 1879).

Sang for the Prince of Wales (1860); debuted in Milan (1870), Covent Garden (1872), and at the New York Academy of Music (1876); sang Elisabeth at the London premiere of Tannhäuser; sang the leading role in Franz Liszt's oratorio The Legend of Saint Elisabeth in his presence (1886); debuted at the Metropolitan Opera (1891); retired from the opera (1894); received the Royal Philharmonic Society's gold medal known as the Beethoven Medal (1897); continued concertizing in North America, Europe, India, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand; sang at a private family funeral service for Queen Victoria (1901) at Windsor Castle; made last public appearance at Royal Albert Hall (1911); made Dame Commander of the British Empire (1925).

Born Marie Louise Lajeunesse, Emma Albani was the first Canadian-born artist to achieve international fame. She belonged to the seventh generation of the musical Lajeunesse family, who had been among the first to settle Canada. Albani began studying piano with her mother at age four, and a year later she was studying harp, piano, and singing with her father. From 1852 until the death of Emma's mother in 1856, the family lived in Plattsburgh, New York; they then moved to Montreal. There, Albani was a student at Sacré Coeur Convent in Montreal where her father taught music. A talented young singer, she was asked to perform for the prince of Wales during his visit to Canada. Though Emma's father wanted to send her for further study in Europe, he did not have the means. Thus, after graduation in 1865, she was engaged as a soloist at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Albany. Three years later, in 1868, the congregation raised funds to send her to Europe where she studied with Gilbert-Louis Duprez and François Benoist in Paris.

She first appeared as Emma Albani on stage in Milan in 1870, and not long after at Covent Garden where she was to remain a perennial favorite. Albani enjoyed triumphs in Florence, St. Petersburg, and Moscow before returning to Covent Garden in 1874. She sang Elsa in the English premiere of Lohengrin and the following year was Elisabeth in the London premiere of Tannhäuser. In 1877, as her popularity continued to grow, she performed before an audience of 20,000 at the Crystal Palace. Albani met Ernest Gye, who had just taken over the management of Covent Garden, in 1872 and married him on August 6, 1878. A son, Frederick Ernest, was born on June 4, 1879. When Albani finally returned to Montreal in 1883, a delirious crowd of 10,000 admirers turned out to greet her. In 1886, she performed for Franz Liszt in his oratorio, The Legend of Saint Elizabeth. She appeared at the Metropolitan in 1891. Albani always returned to Covent Garden. Describing a performance of Tristan and Isolde, Herbert Klein wrote in 1896: "Never before at Covent Garden has the wondrous beauty of this scène d'amour been so totally realized." She was asked to sing at Windsor Castle at a private family funeral for Queen Victoria in 1901. An operatic superstar, Albani was awarded the Royal Philharmonic's gold medal in 1897. She retired in 1911 after a farewell performance at London's Royal Albert Hall.

Her last years were not easy due to financial difficulties after her husband's death in 1925. A grand benefit concert was arranged at Covent Garden on May 25 of that year, and the proceeds allowed her to live in relative comfort until her death in 1930. In 1925, she was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire. A street was named for her in Montreal and a plaque marks her birthplace in Chambly. In 1980, a postage stamp was issued in Canada to commemorate the 50th anniversary of her death. Much beloved in her lifetime, Emma Albani is remembered as one of opera's finest performers.

suggested reading:

MacDonald, Cheryl. Emma Albani: Victorian Diva. Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1984.

John Haag , Associate Professor of History, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia