Antoinette Sterling

The Anglo-American vocalist Antoinette Sterling was born in Sterlingville, New York. She studied with Madame Marchesi, with Pauline Viardot-Garcia and with Manoel Garcia, and after singing two years in America came to England in 1873, where she made her first appearance at Covent Garden under Sir Julius Benedict, rapidly becoming a popular favourite among the contraltos of the day. At this point in her career, her repertory was entirely oratorio music or German Lieder. She later gained her greatest success as a singer of simple sentimental ballads.

A woman of deep religious feeling, her name was constantly associated with philanthropic enterprises. She always leant to eccentricity, refusing to wear a low-necked dress, and getting permission to dispense with one at a command performance before Queen Victoria. She never wore a corset. After belonging to various sects, she at last became an ardent believer in 'Christian science.'

In 1875 she married Mr John Mackinlay. She died on 10 January 1904. After her death, her biography was published by her son, Sterling Mackinlay, in 1906.

Photographed by the London Stereoscopic Company.