She was performing in
Music Halls from as early as 1879, including touring the United States in 1880 for two years with
M. B. Leavitt's Grand English Operatic Burlesque Company, where she "played concerts in 178 towns in America". Later in 1882 she appeared at the
Opera Comique with Lila Clay and her Musical and Dramatic Company of Ladies, described as "one of the greatest, if not the chief, success of the opening section of the entertainment. This was a thoroughly legitimate performance, and the spontaneous manner in which the audience cheered and encored it testified to its effectiveness". She studied under her father, who was a music teacher, and completed her education at the
Guildhall School of Music, performing in student concerts in 1884, where she "fairly astonished her hearers by her facility of execution in a flute fantasia, but this lady can scarcely be called a student." There she studied under Richard Shepherd Rockstro (1826–1906), solo flutist at Covent Garden Opera and author of several books on the flute. Her first performance was at the
Royal Music Hall, Holborn, then at the
Oxford, and the
Royal Aquarium. She then gave concerts in
Prince's Hall (17 February 1885) and then toured in Britain and Europe. Early in her career she was described as a 'Musical Novelty' or 'Musical Eccentrics'; a reviewer in 1885 wrote that she was "the best of female flautists" and "is the most modest instrumentalist we have ever encountered; in fact, the absence of self-assertion in her character has done nothing to assist her career." At a concert at The South London Palace,
Lambeth, in 1887 she was described as "an accomplished flautist, and plays the piccolo like an angel. She gets a beautiful tone from the latter instrument, which is so much abused in our London orchestras. It is a genuine pleasure to hear this young lady execute difficult variations on either instrument without flaw or fault of any kind. She glides over most arduous passages with an ease and certainty that can only come of steady, patient, persevering practice. She was deservedly recalled twice after a performance that proved one of the pleasantest experiences of the evening." A guest performance in the
Berlin Reichshallen Theatre in 1885 was apparently regarded as one of the highlights of her career, "where her engagement was extended for 28 performances". the
Bow and Bromley recitals, the
Covent Garden Promenade Concerts, and at the opening of
the Metropolitan Theatre in 1897. In 1891 she performed for the
Prince of Wales. She later performed works composed by her husband and performed with him at the Theatre Royal,
Richmond. Her playing was remarkable for brilliancy of execution, and purity of tone. She was described as "Probably the most famous of all English lady flute players”. Rockstro wrote "The excellent and brilliant performer Miss Cora Cardigan ( Mrs. Louis Honig ), known as the 'Queen of Flute-Players' always plays on an ebonite flute. The charming quality of the tone that this talented lady elicits from her instrument is too well known to need any panegyric in these pages." Another reviewer wrote "I have heard a lady flautist – Miss Cora Cardigan – on several occasions. I heard her play some most difficult pieces in excellent style, and I am still waiting to listen to a better performer“ (Musical Opinion and Music Trade Review 1889, Oct., S. 29). Pauline went on to tour with Madame Levante's Orchestra of Ladies. ==Personal life==