Page:A Dictionary of Music and Musicians vol 2.djvu/470

458 NIEMANN,, one of the most famous living tenors of Germany, was born Jan. 15, 1831, at Erxleben, Magdeburg, where his father kept an hotel. He was placed, when 17 years old, in a machine factory, but want of means prevented his remaining there, and he went on the stage at Dessau in 1849, first as an actor of small parts, and afterwards as a chorus singer. Here the Hofkapellmeister Friedrich Schneider discovered his musical talent, and gave him some instruction. A baritone singer named Nusch taught him singing, and with such success that Niemann soon obtained engagements at Halle and other small theatres. He thus came under the notice of Herr von Hülsen, General Intendant of the German royal theatres, who called him to Berlin, and gave him the means of further improvement. He afterwards played at Stuttgardt and Königsberg, and through the kindness of the King of Hanover was sent to Paris to study under Duprez. On his return he joined the company at Hanover, and afterwards went to Berlin, where he is engaged at the present time, having been created 'Kammersanger' to the Emperor. In Germany he has for a long time past enjoyed a great reputation, especially in 'heroic parts,' for which his handsome person and powerful voice eminently fit him. He has played the parts of the Wagner heroes, also Cortez, Joseph, Raoul, John of Leyden, Arnold, George Brown (La Dame Blanche) and Chapelon (Postilion); and was selected by Wagner to play Siegmund in 'Die Walküre,' at Bayreuth in 1876.

Niemann has not sung out of Germany except when he played Tannhäuser in Paris, on its production at the Academic on March 13, 1861; when as is well known, the opera was received with great disfavour, only being played twice. [App. p.731 "At the end of article, for twice read three times. Add that Herr Niemann sang the part of Siegmund in the performance of the 'Nibelungen' at Her Majesty's Theatre in 1882, and that he recently (1887) took his farewell of the public. A son of his, Otto Niemann, also a tenor, appeared in a selection from 'Parsifal,' given at the London Symphony Concert of Dec. 13, 1887."] [ A. C. ]

NIEMETSCHEK,, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor of Latin at Pilsen, and of Philosophy at Prague (1815), born at Saczka in Bohemia, a musical amateur, who played the piano with taste, and is of importance in musical history as the author of a life of Mozart, the best in its day (Prague, 1798, 2nd edition, Leipzig 1808). [ C. F. P. ]

NIGHT DANCERS, THE. A romantic opera, in 2 acts, founded on the same legend with the ballet of Giselle; words by G. Soane, music by Edward J. Loder. Produced under the title of 'The Wilis, or the Night Dancers,' at the Princess's Theatre, London, Oct. 28, 1846. The notice of the performance in the 'Times' is historical, since it was the first account of an opera contributed by Mr. J. W. Davison, who until 1878 was the musical critic of that paper. The opera was revived at the Royal English Opera, Covent Garden, Nov. 10, 1860. [ G. ]

NILSSON,, was born Aug. 20, 1843, near Wexiö in the district of Wederslof, Sweden, where her father was a very small farmer on the estate of Count Hamilton. From an early date she showed great aptitude for music, and her voice proved the means of her introduction to Baroness Leuhusen, née Valerius, herself formerly a singer, from whom the young vocalist received some lessons. She was afterwards instructed by Franz Berwald of Stockholm, and in six months sang at Court. Miss Nilsson accompanied the Baroness Leuhusen to Paris, and studied singing under M. Wartel. She made her début at the Théâtre Lyrique Oct. 27, 1864, as Violetta, in a French version of La Traviata; and afterwards appeared as Lady Henrietta, Astrifiammante, and Elvira (Don Giovanni), etc. She remained at the Lyrique nearly three years, after which she came to England, and made her first appearance June 8, 1867, at Her Majesty's as Violetta, with great success, subsequently playing in the other characters mentioned above, and as Margaret in Faust. The same season she sang at the Crystal Palace, and also at the Birmingham Festival in oratorio, for which she was instructed by Mr. Turle, organist of Westminster Abbey, more especially with regard to the traditional style of Handel's songs. On Oct. 23 she took farewell of the Théâtre Lyrique by creating the principal part in Les Bluets of Jules Cohen. She was then engaged by the Académie de Musique for the part of Ophelia in Ambroise Thomas's Hamlet, in which she appeared on its production March 9, 1868, with very great success.

In 1868 Miss Nilsson reappeared in Italian Opera at Drury Lane, whither the company had migrated by reason of the fire at Her Majesty's, with the same éclat as before, and added to her repertoire the rdles of Lucia and Cherubino. In that year she sang 'From mighty kings,' and 'Wise men flattering,' at the Handel Festival. She sang in the autumn at Baden-Baden, appearing for the first time as Mignon, and in the winter returned to the Académie, Paris. In 1869 she played Ophelia in the production of Hamlet at Covent Garden. In the autumn she made a provincial tour, singing later in London, at Exeter Hall, in the Messiah, Creation, Hymn of Praise, etc., and returning to Paris for the winter.

In the summer season of 1870, Mr. Wood having taken Drury Lane for Italian Opera, Miss Nilsson was engaged as one of the stars, and she then played for the first time in England as Alice, the Countess (Figaro), Desdemona, and Mignon. On July 17 she sang the scena 'Ah perfido,' at the Philharmonic, on the commemoration of the centenary of Beethoven's birth, with a beauty of conception and expression which can never be forgotten by those who heard it.

From the autumn of 1870 to the spring of 1872 Miss Nilsson was in America singing in concerts and Italian opera under M. Strakosch, when she added Flotow's comic opera 'L' Ombre' to her other parts. She returned to Drury Lane in the summer of 1872, and on July 27 was married at Westminster Abbey to M. Auguste Rouzaud of Paris [App. p.731 "died Feb. 22, 1882"]. From 1872 to 1877 Madame Nilsson sang every season in Italian opera at Drury Lane and Her Majesty's, creating Edith in Balfe's