 Lord <unk> awarded <unk> a scholarship in 1906 that allowed her to return to Europe and continue her vocal studies . She returned there and continued both to study and give performances . Her first operatic performance came in 1909 in <unk> , Italy as <unk> in <unk> 's Carmen . She landed a second operatic role as <unk> in <unk> ' <unk> , which was being performed by the London Covent Garden opera company . The opera opened in June 1910 . <unk> , <unk> <unk> , the <unk> <unk> soprano of the company , feared that <unk> 's voice would <unk> her own , and demanded that <unk> be removed from the opera . The company 's director <unk> to <unk> 's demands , informing <unk> on opening night that she would not be performing . <unk> reacted badly , and quit opera entirely . 
