Born: 9 July 1842, United States
Died: 13 May 1916
Country most active: International
Also known as: Clara Strakosch
The following is excerpted from Famous Women: An Outline of Feminine Achievement Through the Ages With Life Stories of Five Hundred Noted Women, written by Joseph Adelman, published 1926 by Ellis M Lonow Company.
Clara Louise Kellogg, an American singer, born at Sumterville, S.C. She made her professional début in 1860 at Pittsburgh as a member of a concert company. She made her first appearance in opera in New York in 1861, and when she was only twenty created the rôle of Marguerite in Gounod’s Faust.
Henceforth she was one of the most popular American singers, and was also cordially received in England when she sang with Christine Nilsson. In 1874 she organized her own opera company in English. She had an extensive repertory, a pure and flexible soprano voice, and dramatic ability of a high order.
In 1887 she married her manager, Carl Strakosch, and soon after retired from professional life.
Her reminiscences were published in 1913 as Memoirs of an American Prima Donna.
The following is excerpted from A Dictionary of Music and Musicians, published in 1900 and edited by George Grove.
KELLOGG, Clara Louise, though born in Sumterville, South Carolina, in July 1842, is of northern extraction. Her mother had considerable talent as a musician, and Clara was her only child. In 1856 they removed to New York, where she received the whole of her musical education. She made her first appearance there, at the Academy of Music (Opera), as Gilda in Rigoletto, in 1861, and sang that season 10 or 12 times. In 1867 (Nov. 2) she made her début in London at Her Majesty’s as Margherita, sang constantly, and was re-engaged for the next year. From 1868 to 1872 she was touring in the United States. On May 11, 1872, she re-appeared in London at Drury Lane, Her Majesty’s Opera, as Linda, and sang during that season also as Gilda. On her return to the United States she continued to sing in Italian opera till 1874, when she organised an English troupe, herself superintending the translation of the words, the mise en scéne, the training of the singers, and the rehearsals of the chorus. Such was her devotion to the project, that in the winter of 74–75 she sang no fewer than 125 nights. It is satisfactory to hear that the scheme was successful. Miss Kellogg’s musical gifts are great. She is said to be familiar with thirty-five operas. She has great conscientiousness as an artist, ardent enthusiasm, and a voice of great compass and purity. In addition to which she has a remarkable talent for business and is never so happy as when she is doing a good or benevolent action.
The following is excerpted from Woman: Her Position, Influence and Achievement Throughout the Civilized World. Designed and Arranged by William C. King. Published in 1900 by The King-Richardson Co. Copyright 1903 The King-Richardson Co.
The first American singer to win recognition in Europe. Her father, George Kellogg, was an inventor of considerable note. Her mother was an excellent musician. Her birthplace was at Sumpterville, S.C., but her childhood was spent up north.
Clara was evidently a born singer, for a nine months old she could hum a tune correctly.
When she was fourteen years old she began a thorough course of musical studies, and the family removed to New York for that purpose. A professional career was in the minds of the parents from the start, and all her training was with that end in view.
She studied both the French & Italian methods of singing. She made a special study of Marguerite in Gounod’s “Faust,” and in that no one has ever equaled her. Berlioz was in the United States at the time and heard her with astonishment at the skill with which she interpreted the subtler shadings of the poet, which he believed were beyond the reach of lyric art.
Upon appearing in Her Majesty’s Theatre, London, as Marguerite, she won a brilliant triumph. she also sang in the Händel Festival held in the great Crystal Palace, a great honor for an American.
When she returned to America the public was ready to receive her, and everywhere she was met by crowded houses. In one winter she sang one hundred and twenty-five nights.
After some years she accepted an engagement in Austria, where she sang in Italian with a German opera company. She even journeyed into Russia and sang in St. Petersburg.
She has always been a helpful friend to struggling artists. She accumulated a considerable fortune and is generous in distributing to philanthropic and charitable enterprises.
Her voice in youth was a high soprano with a range from C to E flat. With age it lost some of the highest notes but gained in power and richness.