Pauline Lucca, a German vocalist, born in Vienna, April 25, 1842. Her parents were poor Jews, and when 14 years old she was placed in the chorus of the Karnthnerthor theatre. At 17 she accepted an engagement at the theatre of Olmutz, there taking her first leading role, that of Elvira in Ernani, Sept. 7, 1850. The following season she sang at Prague, and in 1861, through the influence of Meyerbeer, she obtained an engagement at Berlin, where she at once established herself as a favorite, and remained till 1872, but filled short engagements at the opera houses of London, St. Petersburg, and other cities. In 1865 she married Baron von Rhaden, a former Prussian army officer, from whom she was divorced after her arrival in the United States. On Sept. 30, 1872, she appeared at the New York academy of music. She possesses a pure and resonant soprano voice of great power and beauty, and combines with her qualities as a vocalist great dramatic ability. She is more distinguished for breadth of style than for facility of execution.

Her repertory is large, and she has sung in more than 40 German and Italian operas.