Madame Emma Eames.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 4, 25 January 1908, Page 51

Madame Emma Eames.

Madame Emma Eames, the well-known prirna donna, who is studying Japanese before appearing in Mascagni’s new Japanese opera, “Iris,” is one of the most thoroughly artistic of present-day singers. Some idea of her devotion to her art may be gathered from the fact that she is taking all this trouble although she is to eventually sing her role in Italian. Madame Kames is an American, but she was born in Shanghai. When quite a girl she showed marked talent for singing, and her parents were not slow to cultivate her gift. Her first appearance in opera was made in Paris in 1889, and she she sang at Covent Garden two years later, where her success was instantaneous. Madame Eames is a great lover of outdoor life, and goes in a good deal for tennis and mountain climbing. In spite of her liking for games and the open air, however, she is highly emotional and suffers acutely from stage fright. The famous singer is exceedingly particular about her stage costumes, paying as much attention to the dressing of her various roles as she does to the words and music. She once declared that her clothes greatly influenced her singing. “New clothes,” she said, “give me new courage. When I feel that I am correctly dressed, I become the more daring.” In choosing her gowns for “Iris,” Madame Eames will have the invaluable assistance of Sada the celebrated Japanese actress. Madame Eames is one of Queen Alexandra’s favourite artistes, and on one occosian her Majesty is said to have paid her a pretty compliment. Someone who happened to be discussing opera in the presence of the Queen let fall the remark that Madame Eames was of an icy disposition. “Ah, yes,” replied her Majesty, “ but ice melts.”