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Western Union Telegraph Company

(Encyclopedia)Western Union Telegraph Company, enterprise created (1851) to provide telegraphic communications services in the United States. Originally known as the New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegra...

Norman, Jessye

(Encyclopedia)Norman, Jessye, 1945–2019, American soprano, b. Augusta, Ga., studied Howard Univ. (B.A., 1967), Univ. of Michigan, and Peabody Conservatory. Making her early reputation in Europe, Norman won first ...

Busch, Adolf

(Encyclopedia)Busch, Adolf äˈdôlf bo͝osh [key], 1891–1952, German-Swiss violinist. He studied at the Cologne Conservatory. From 1919 to 1935 he headed outstanding chamber music groups, including the Busch Qua...

Smyth, Dame Ethel Mary

(Encyclopedia)Smyth, Dame Ethel Mary smīth [key], 1858–1944, English composer, studied at the Leipzig Conservatory. In addition to her many songs and chamber music she wrote operas, including The Wreckers (1906)...

Fremstad, Olive Nayan

(Encyclopedia)Fremstad, Olive Nayan frĕmˈstăd [key], 1871–1951, Swedish-American soprano; pupil of Lilli Lehmann. She came to the United States as a child. After her European debut (Cologne, 1895), she sang co...

Gluck, Alma

(Encyclopedia)Gluck, Alma glo͝ok [key], 1884–1938, American soprano, b. Bucharest, Romania. Her real name was Reba Fiersohn. She sang (1909–12) at the Metropolitan Opera, New York City, and was one of the firs...

Gigli, Beniamino

(Encyclopedia)Gigli, Beniamino bānyämēˈnō jēˈlyē [key], 1890–1957, Italian tenor. He made his debut (1914) at Rovigo, Italy, as Enzo in La Gioconda. At the Metropolitan Opera, New York City, he was a lead...

Peerce, Jan

(Encyclopedia)Peerce, Jan, 1904–85, American tenor, b. New York City as Jacob Pincus Perelmuth. Discovered by Arturo Toscanini, who chose him to be a soloist in a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Peerce...

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