It was quite late in the season of 1877 when Etelka Gerster made her debut at Her Majesty's as Amhia in “La Sonnambula”. She was one of Mr. Mapleson's surprises. Beyond a very high register, no one expected anything extraordinary from the newcomer. Imagine, therefore, the delight of habitues when they heard for the first time a voice of exquisitely musical quality and bird-like tone, trained to execute the most difficult fiorituri and cadenzas with the utmost care, and capable of running up comfortably to the giddy height of an F in alt. Moreover, the Hungarian soprano proved to be a good actress and a conscientious artist, so that her success was never for a moment in doubt.