Catherine Hayes (soprano) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Catherine Hayes
Miss Catherine Hayes, September 1854, by George W. Mason
Born	1818? Limerick City, Ireland
Died	11 August 1861
Occupation	Opera soprano

Catherine Hayes (born around 1818, died August 11, 1861) was a super famous Irish singer from the Victorian era. She was known as a soprano, which means she had a very high singing voice, especially in opera. People even called her the "Madonna of her day" because she was as popular as a modern pop star!

Meet Catherine Hayes: A Famous Singer

Her Early Life and Training

Catherine Hayes was born in Limerick City, Ireland, around 1818. Her family was not wealthy. Her father, a musician, left the family when she was just five years old. Catherine grew up with her mother and sister, often facing tough times.

When Catherine was about 20, her amazing singing talent was noticed by Bishop Edmund Knox. He lived next door to the Earl of Limerick and heard her singing in her garden. He was so impressed that he helped her get singing lessons in Limerick.

Later, Bishop Knox arranged for Catherine to study with a famous teacher named Antonio Sapio in Dublin. She moved there with her mother in 1839. Her first public performance was on May 1, 1839, at a charity concert in Dublin. She sang a duet and impressed everyone.

Catherine often performed in Dublin and her hometown of Limerick. In 1841, she even sang at a concert where the famous pianist Franz Liszt was performing!

Studying in Paris and Milan

Another important person, a bass singer named Luigi Lablache, heard Catherine sing in Dublin. He was very impressed and suggested she study with the best singing teacher in Europe, Manuel Garcia, in Paris.

So, in October 1842, Catherine and her mother traveled to Paris. She studied with Manuel Garcia for about a year and a half, learning a lot about singing and even how to speak French.

After Paris, Catherine went to Milan, Italy, in 1845 to continue her studies. She worked with another teacher, Felice Ronconi. Her first big opera performance was in Marseilles, France, in 1846. She played the role of Elvira in an opera called I puritani and was a huge success!

Later, she sang at the famous La Scala opera house in Milan. Her voice was described as "sweetest quality" and she could sing very high notes easily. She was also a great actress on stage. People loved her, and she was called back for bows many times. The famous composer Giuseppe Verdi even became interested in her for his new operas.

Becoming a Star: London and Beyond

In 1849, Catherine Hayes returned to England. She made her debut at the Covent Garden in London and was warmly welcomed. A special moment came when she sang for Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace. After singing Italian songs, the Queen asked for an encore. Catherine, with a playful smile, sang a beautiful Irish song called Kathleen Mavourneen.

She also performed in Dublin and Rome, where she received an important award from the Academia di Santa Cecilia.

Touring the Americas

In 1851, Catherine Hayes left England to tour the Americas. She first sang in New York and then traveled all over the United States, including Boston, Toronto, Philadelphia, and New Orleans. She even met presidents and important leaders!

The famous showman P.T. Barnum helped arrange her tour of California. There, she was called "The Swan of Erin" and "The Hibernian Prima Donna." She performed in San Francisco from November 1852 to May 1853. Gold miners, who were very excited to hear her, sometimes paid huge amounts of money for tickets!

Newspapers described her as a "graceful, queen-like person" with "bright auburn hair" and "blue eyes." During the spring of 1853, she even visited many gold mining camps and tried her hand at gold panning! A street in Grass Valley, California, is named "Kate Hayes Street" after her.

After her success in North America, Catherine traveled to South America, performing in cities like Lima, Valparaiso, and Santiago.

Performances in Australia and Asia

In January 1854, Catherine arrived in Sydney, Australia, causing huge excitement. Her concerts were incredibly popular. Besides opera, people loved her performances of ballads like "Home, Sweet Home" and "Oh, Steer My Bark to Erin's Isle." When she left Sydney, a judge declared that people would remember her with "admiration, respect, and esteem." Catherine even donated the money from her last concert in Sydney to a children's charity.

She then toured through other Australian cities like Melbourne, Geelong, and Adelaide. After Australia, she traveled to Calcutta (now Kolkata) in India, and then to Batavia (now Jakarta) and Singapore, performing for audiences there. She later returned to Australia for more concerts.

Later Life

Catherine Hayes returned to England in August 1856 after five years of touring the world. In 1857, she married William Avery Bushnell, who had helped manage her tours in America. Sadly, he became ill and passed away in 1858.

After her husband's death, Catherine continued to perform in concerts in London and other towns. She was especially loved for her ballad singing.

Catherine Hayes passed away on August 11, 1861, at the age of 42 or 43. She was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery in London. She left behind a legacy as one of the most famous and beloved singers of her time, who traveled the world sharing her incredible voice.

Images for kids

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  Catherine Hayes during her Australian tour

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  Catherine Hayes leaving Sydney on 18 October 1854

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  Catherine Hayes's grave at Kensal Green Cemetery, London, pictured in 2014