caption death_date birth_place birth_date known_for image article_title name
gauthier in a javanese headdress 20 december 1958 ottawa , ontario 20 september 1885 mezzo-soprano , voice teacher evagauthierheaddress.jpg Éva gauthier
 Éva gauthier
Éva gauthier

Éva gauthier -lrb- september 20 , 1885december 20 , 1958 -rrb- was a canadian-american mezzo-soprano and voice teacher .
she performed and popularised songs by contemporary composers throughout her career and sang in the american premieres of several works by erik satie , maurice ravel and igor stravinsky , including the title role in the latter 's `` perséphone '' .
the niece of lady laurier and sir wilfrid laurier , who also were her patrons , she initially trained and performed in europe .
she then travelled to java and for four years immersed herself in its native music , which she introduced to north american audiences on her return .
she retired from performing in 1937 , and opened a voice studio in new york , where she became a founding member of the american guild of musical artists and served on its board of governors .
gauthier was praised for the many qualities her singing brought to music .
the citation from the campion society of san francisco , which she received in 1949 , said : '' ... her rare open-mindedness and unorthodox enthusiasm having been initially responsible for the recognition of many vital and important modern composers ''
