Lillian Nordica (1857 - 1914) Was an American opera soprano known internatinolay for Wagnerian roles. Born in Farmington Maine in 1857 and trained at the prestigeous New England Conservatory in Boston in 1875. She toured America and England extensively before making her debut at Bayreuth in 1894 the first American to do so. Shortley thereafter becoming an early spokesperson for Coca Cola.

 She made her Paris Opera debut in 1882 in 'Faust' and as Ophelia in 'Hamlet'. Her performance as Valentine in 'Les Hugenots' her most revered of roles was first seen at the Metroplitan Opera in New York on December 18 1891. She would stay with the company for the next eleven seasons. While also touring throughout Europe ,Canada And Australia ,Specializing in the Wagnerian Brunnhildes : Islode , Elsa Venus and Kundry. She was often teamed with Tenor Jean de Reszke. The pair were reportedly highly regarded for their abilty to sing the parts as the composer intended in a bel canto style thought to have been not possible vocaly. 

 Though she recorded extensivley with Columbia records between 1906 and 1911 , the art was still in it's infancy and their results leave much to be desired. 

 Madame Nordica died aboard the Ocena Liner 'Tasman' when it ran aground a coral reef in May of 1914 off the coast of Java.