Nissen (Nissen-Saloman), Henriette

Swedish singer; born in Göteborg March 12, 1819; died in Harzburg Aug. 27, 1879. She studied pianoforte under Chopin (1839), and singing under Manuel Garcia at Paris. She made her début at the Italian opera in Paris Nov. 12, 1843, as Adalgisa, with Grisi as Norma. Donizetti taught her the rôle of Irene in "Belisario," which was produced at the Italian opera Oct. 24, 1843. From 1845 to 1848 she was occupied with a triumphal tour of Italy, Russia, Norway, Sweden, and England. Nissen was a favorite at the Gewandhaus concerts in Leipsic and at Berlin, where her popularity rivaled that of Jenny Lind. In 1850 she married in Holland the violinist Siegfried Saloman, with whom she made a concert tour through Sweden, Finland, and Russia.

Nissen's voice was very sweet and of great compass, and it overcame the most formidable technical difficulties with remarkable case; she excelled in acting also. Her best rôles were La Sonnambula, Norma, Lucrezia Borgia, Lucia di Lammermoor, and Ernani. In 1859 she became a teacher of singing at the St. Petersburg Conservatorium. She published in 1881 "Das Studium des Gesanges," embodying her vocal method; the work appeared at the same time in French and Russian also.

Bibliography:

  * Baker, Biog. Dict. of Musicians, New York, 1900;
  * Scribner's Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians, s.v. Saloman.



S. N. D.