Catherine Hayes (soprano)

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, married name Catherine Bushnell, (1818? – 11 August 1861) was a world-famous Irish soprano of the Victorian era. According to London's Daily Express, "Hayes was the 'Madonna' of her day; she was the 19th-century operatic equivalent of the world's most famous pop star."

Hayes was baptized on 8 November 1818. She was born of humble Anglo-Irish parentage at 4 Patrick Street, Limerick. Her father was the musician Arthur Williamson Hayes; he abandoned the family, and young Kate Hayes grew up very poor with her mother and sister.

In 1838, her vocal talents attracted the notice of Edmund Knox, the Church of Ireland bishop of Limerick. She then gave private performances for the local Protestant Ascendancy.

Through Bishop Knox's exertions, funds were procured to enable Hayes to study in Dublin under Antonio Sapio, from 1 April 1839 until August 1842. Her first appearance took place on 3 May 1839 at Sapio's annual concert in the charitable fundraising theatre at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin (now the Gate Theatre). Early next year she sang in her native Limerick, and then frequently in Dublin, and soon raised her terms to ten guineas a concert. After hearing Grisi and Mario in Norma on 13 Sept. 1841, she decided to come out on the lyric stage, and, going to Paris on 12 Oct. 1842, studied under Manuel Garcia, who after a tuition of a year and a half advised her to proceed to Italy.

At Milan she became the pupil of Felice Ronconi, and through the intervention of Giuseppina Grassini was engaged for the Italian Opera House, Marseilles, where on 10 May 1846 she made her first appearance on the stage as Elvira in I puritani and was enthusiastically applauded.

After her return to Milan she continued her studies under Ronconi, until Morelli, the director of La Scala at Milan, offered her an engagement. Here her first character was Linda, and she was recalled twelve times by the audience. Her voice had now become a soprano of the sweetest quality, and of good compass, ascending with ease to D in alt. The upper notes were limpid, and like a well-tuned silver bell up to A. Her lower tones were the most beautiful ever heard in a real soprano, and her trill was remarkably good. She was a touching actress in all her standard parts. She was tall, with a fine figure, and graceful in her movements. Shortly after Hayes' performance at La Scala, Giuseppe Verdi became interested in her for one of his new operas.