[Letter to Bessie (?Abott)].

2 1/2 pp. pp. 8vo bi-folium Ella Russell (1864'1935) was an American-born, English Soprano. She was born in Ohio but spent much her life in England. She studied with Madame de la Grange. She made her debut in Italy as Leonora in Il Trovatore. She sang at Covent Garden, and at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Toured England, Ireland and Australia. Other roles included Suzel in 'Amico Fritz', Santuzza in 'Cavalleria Rusticana', Violetta in 'La Traviata', Senta in 'Fliegende Hollander' and Margurite in 'Faust'. Her son was the bass Camillo Righini . She is writing to "Bessi"e, who might be the American soprano Bessie Abott, but she asks if Bessie has found a 'master' and suggests Wilhelmye which could possibly refer to the Master violinist August Wilhelmj, saying he is 'simply divine'he looks exactly like Isaye [?Eug'ne Ysa'e another violist] only of course is much older', so it is uncertain who the correspondent is. whoever she is she was preparing to go to Brussels and Ella Russell suggests that she might come down for the night to see them. Also wonders if they could not meet in Bayreuth in the beginning of August.…