American soprano Elizabeth Parkina (Parkinson) [1878-1922]: She studied with Mathilde Marchesi in Paris and made her debut at the Opera-Comique there (1902) singing the title role in Lakme. In 1904 she went to Covent Garden where she remained until 1907. She toured Australia in 1905, but apparently never sang in the United States. She was supposed to be a protégée of Nellie Melba, but some speculate, insist the lthe latter really hindered Parkina's advancing career (1). She ended her career early on account of illness, dying of tuberculosis in 1922. She had an outstandingly beautiful coloratura soprano, trained in the classic Marchesi method. She made 12 rare records for G&T (London 1904-1907). Kutsch & Remens Biographical Dictionary of Singers / Chilton Book Company /1969 (1) The liner notes to the Rubini LP issued 3-4 decades ago reads as follows: "The vagaries of Parkina's career, after her early promise, gave rise to much speculation and rumour, a process given added impetus by the fact that she was a Marchesi pupil and a contemporary of Melba's at Covent Garden. She was said to be a protégée of the great Melba, but she was also claimred to have been a victim of Melban intrigue -- a legend perpetuated without convincing corroborative evidence, by at least two well-known writers on the history of vocal art. Now Melba does not seem to have been the nicest woman in the world, nor was she particulary well disposed towards other Marchesi pupils. But those very facts may well have have contributed to an uncritical acceptance of any and every tale about her machinations and intrigues. One can not help suspecting that it was all too easy for a 'failed' soprano to achieve the reputation of having been kept out of the Garden by a jealous Melba. Even today, such stories find too much easy credulity among record collectors." Pictures & further information via Bates County Museum: bcmuseum.wordpress.com/tag/elizabeth-parkina/ ***************************************