Bessie Abott: New York soprano (1878-1919) was born Bessie Pickens. Abott's musical career began in vaudeville houses, where she appeared with her twin sister, Jessie Pickens. While making appearances in operettas, notably 1492 and The Little Christopher, Bessie was heard by Jean de Reszke and was encouraged to pursue grand opera. Her teachers of note in this endeavor included Capoul, Bouhy and Marchesi. She made her debut (1901) at the Palais Garnier (Paris Opéra) as Juliette. After five years at the Opéra, she joined the Metropolitan Opera. Her debut there (20 Jan 1906) was as Mimi in La Bohème. She was on tour with that Company in San Francisco when the 1906 earthquake struck. In her accounts she described how she was nearly thrown from her bed and how her hotel room cracked and writhed about her. Abott also appeared in Monte Carlo, Lisbon and Petrograd. After she married sculptor T. Waldo Story, she retired from the stage.
Bessie Abott: New York soprano (1878-1919) was born Bessie Pickens. Abott's musical career began in vaudeville houses, where she appeared with her twin sister, Jessie Pickens. While making appearances in operettas, notably 1492 and The Little Christopher, Bessie was heard by Jean de Reszke and was encouraged to pursue grand opera. Her teachers of note in this endeavor included Capoul, Bouhy and Marchesi. She made her debut (1901) at the Palais Garnier (Paris Opéra) as Juliette. After five years at the Opéra, she joined the Metropolitan Opera. Her debut there (20 Jan 1906) was as Mimi in La Bohème. She was on tour with that Company in San Francisco when the 1906 earthquake struck. In her accounts she described how she was nearly thrown from her bed and how her hotel room cracked and writhed about her. Abott also appeared in Monte Carlo, Lisbon and Petrograd. After she married sculptor T. Waldo Story, she retired from the stage.
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