Emma Eames (1865–1952)

Emma Eames was born in Shanghai, China, the daughter of an American international lawyer. She was raised in the USA and studied voice in Boston and Paris. In 1889, she was selected by Charles Gounod himself to sing the role of Juliette at the debut of his opera Roméo et Juliette at the Paris Opéra, which launched her successful singing career. She was also popular in New York and London in her favored roles of Tosca, Donna Anna and Donna Elvira, and Aida. After her retirement, she taught singing and went on periodic concert tours, often with her second husband, Emilio Edoardo de Gogorza, a baritone. Her autobiography, Some Memories and Reflections, was published in 1927.