History of Sumter, (Sumter County) South Carolina United States of America

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Clara Louise Kellogg, vocalist, was born in Sumter, S.C., July 12, 1842; daughter of George and Jane Elizabeth (Crosby) Kellogg. She attended Ashland seminary, New York, and received her musical education under French and Italian masters in New York city and later in Europe under Meizer and Arditi. She made her first appearance in Italian opera in Boston, Mass., in "Linda di Chamouni" and "La Sonnambula." She then assumed the part of Gilds in "Rigoletta" at the Academy of Music, New York city, in 1861, but made her greatest success in 1864 or 1865 as Marguerite in Gounod's "Faust,"a part never before played in the United States. After a successful tour of the United States she appeared in Her Majesty's theatre, London, in 1867, making her d?but in "Faust," followed by "Traviata," "Linda" and other operas, and won immediate recognition. In the same year she sang at the Handel Festival at the Crystal Palace. She returned to the United States in 1868 and made concert tours under the management of Max Strakosch until 1872, when she returned to England and sang at the Drury Lane theatre, London, with Christine Nilsson. She next appeared in Italian opera at the Academy of Music, New York city, and in 1874 she organized an English opera company and in 1876 an Italian opera company, appearing in "A?da" and "Carmen." Soon after she retired from the operatic stage, but appeared in concerts in all parts of the United States. She sang in Italian opera in Austria, 1879-80, and in St. Petersburg in 1888, and again made a tour of the United States with her company. She was married to her manager, Max Strakosch, in 1887, retiring from professional life, having been the first American singer to win approbation in Europe.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Sumter, (Sumter County) South Carolina

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