The Operatic soprano Emma Juch (1861-1939) [Emma Antonia Juch Wellman] was born in Vienna and raised in New York City. Emma Juch took singing lessons and practiced secretly as her father did not approve. It wasn't until he first heard her sing on stage that he had a change of heart. Her debut came as Philine in an Italian version of Ambroise Thomas' "Mignon" at 18 years of age and she was immediately hired to sing for the season at Her Majesty's Theatre in London. She made her American debut at NYC's Academy of Music in 1881 and, in 1886, was the first singer contracted by the American Opera Company. Soon after that company folded, she formed the Emma Juch Company. The company opened with "Faust" at the Grand Opera House in Los Angeles in 1890 and went on to tour the US and Mexico. Her singing career spanned but a mere 13 years as she retired after marrying the New York lawyer Francis L. Wellman in 1894. Good .
Keywords: MUSIC; OPERA; CLASSICAL; EMMA JUCH; AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED; SECOND AUTOGRAPH; SIGNATURE; DATED; NINETEENTH CENTURY; 19TH CENTURY; OPERATIC SOPRANO; WELLMAN; AMERICAN OPERA COMPANY; SINGER; THE EMMA JUCH COMPANY; FAUST; LOS ANGELES; NEW YORK.