Emma Abbott

Emma Abbott (December 9, 1850 – January 5, 1891), American opera singer, was born in Chicago, Illinois. She made her debut as a guitar player and singer in Peoria, Illinois in 1859. She met Clara Louise Kellogg, who encouraged her to study in New York. She studied in New York City under Achille Errani, Milan under Sangiovanni and Paris under Delle Sedie. She became a soprano at the Church of the Divine Paternity about 1870.

She had a fine soprano voice, and appeared first in opera in London under Colonel Mapleson's direction at Covent Garden^{[citation needed]}, also singing at important concerts. Her performances there included the role of "Marie" in The Daughter of the Regiment in 1876. She organized an opera company known by her name (the Abbott English Opera Company), and toured extensively in the United States, where she enjoyed considerable reputation. Her more notable performances included such works as La Traviata, Romeo and Juliette, Paul and Virginia, H. M. S. Pinafore, Martha and La Sonnambula. In 1873 she married Eugene J. Wetherell (Wethereil), her company's manager. She died at Salt Lake City in 1891.