Emma Trentini

Emma Trentini (1878-March 23, 1959) was an Italian soprano opera singer who came to the United States in December 1906.

She was from Mantova, Italy (Mantua). Her parents were poor and could not afford to give her money to attain an operatic career. At the age of 12 she was welcomed into the church choir of Mantova. A fund was raised and her mother consented to allow her to go away and study with the renowned Lombardi. She obtained a place at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan at the age of 14. She studied there for four years and toured Europe as a performer between seasons. During her travels she met Dame Nellie Melba, the Australian soprano opera singer. Melba the Great recommended Trentini to Oscar Hammerstein who was in Paris and searching throughout Europe for new talent. Trentini sang for Hammerstein in Brussels, Belgium. He was impressed by her and she was extended a five-year contract.

She performed as a singer with Hammerstein at the Manhattan Opera House. The opera house was built by Hammerstein and opened in 1906. It still stands at 34th Street (Manhattan). When she came to America she spoke only Italian. Trentini studied English diligently, repeating words and phrases over and over. One difficulty for her was that she sometimes attached an incorrect meaning to a word. An example of this was when she thanked a member of the opera house staff for a favor and uttered Kiss Me instead of Thank You. She said the words again and again until a linguist corrected her. At that point she fled the room, returning to her hotel to say Thank You repeatedly!

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