Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-01

1926. Her musical talents were early de-
ve,oped. She could sing any melody. no
matter how difficult b. ear after hearing
it once, when but little child. Her
fathers cottage was situated on the
banks of the Shannon and an arbor lead
ing down to the rivers edge was favor
lite retreat for Catherine. She would sirg g
all her little repertoire thinking she
was alone, but the little river (unfaithful
lover) soon betrayed her secret. People
would row down to hear her. One even
ing the good bishop, DIR. Knox, formed
one of rowing party on the river, and
her beautiful notes attracted his atten-
tion. From that moment her fortune was
made. Under his influence funds were
soon obtained to procure for her the nee
essary instruction. She went to Dublin
then to Paris, where she studied under
Garcia, the master of Jenny Lind. Ow-
ing to her sensitive nature, she could
not stand the harsh method Of Garcia,
and one day she laughed at him and said:
Don't you like my voice?" No response
from the master Very well" she said,
some one else will teach me. l am only
a poor Irish girl. Perhaps IL l had a
long italian name I'd Please you better"
and off she flew to another teacher at
Milan, Ronconi by name. She made her
debut at Marseilles in "Puritani." with
great success Afterward she apeared
at La Scala. Then she went to Vienna,
thence to Venice, having triumph in all
these principal cities. She made her debut
In London at Convent Garden April II,
.S49. She had to compete with such artists
as Pasta, Grisi and Jenny Lind. Here
is an extract from the London Times at
that time: Catherine Hayes, an Irish
woman by BIRTH made her debut here
last night Her voice is a pure soprano,
not remarkable for power, but of very
sweet quality throughout, and capable of
lifting without the slightest effort. Her
style is artistic and graceful. She never
forces a tone and has abundance of en-
ergy at command. Her great success
was thoroughly deserved" Many tri-
umphs gilded by fortune fell to her lot in
Australia and America. She married In
1860 Mr.. Bushnell, an estimable gentle
man, who died shortly afterward in the
Pyrenees. She also at last succumbed to
consumption in the prime of life, dying
at Sydenham August 5. 1861. Ireland lost
her sweetest singer of national airs; a
daughter of the sister is.e possessed the
secret to charm a crowd. All honor to
the poor Irish girl who sprang from the
people and attained such heights of
artistic and social renown. May her
memory ever remain as green as the
hills and valleys of her own beloved Ire
land.
Next Sundays article will be Jenny
Lind" 1S20-1SS7.
-L-
President and Mrs. Roosevelt attended
the Paderewski recital in Washington
November 10 at the Belasco theater.
-,%-
Li.li Lehman is living series of -FOUR
song recitals in the large Philharmonic
hail during December and January.
S.
A very interesting program was given
at the Hotel Hollywood Thanksgiving
evening by Frederick Grover violinist,
and Herr Otto Kunitz, pianist.
Josef Hofmann, the pianist, has home
at Potsdam on the banks of the Hovel,
opposite the palace of the German crown
prince. He also has an American home,
which belongs to his wife, at Aiken,
8. c. Mrs. Hofmann looks much older
than her husband.
Franz Rot prolific composer OF oper-
ettas and musical farces, died in Berlin
November Is, at the age of II years.
50
julius Lange is to be the new director
OIL the Orpheus society in Buffalo, N. Y. |
He is better known in Europe than here. |
For ten years he was the director of the |
Lehrergesangverein in Zurich.
Among Kong Edwards birthday hon
ors" was a knighthood conferred upon
Charles Gantley. the veteran baritone