Catherine Hayes was a world-famous Irish soprano of the Victorian era. According to London’s Daily, “Hayes was the ‘Madonna’ of her day, she was the 19th-century operatic equivalent of the world’s most famous pop star.”
Born in 1818 into poverty Limerick’s Patrick Street, Catherine Hayes went on to become an international opera star, performing concerts in Italy, France, London and across the US from New York to San Francisco, Peru and Chile and Australia.
After touring worldwide she returned to London in 1856. Unfortunately her eventful life was cut short when she died from a stroke in London at just 42. Despite her fame and travels there are no recordings of the voice of Catherine Hayes but her repertoire and her name is set to be celebrated again in a theatre production due to be debuted in 2017.
‘Nightingale – The Catherine Hayes Story’ this June 9 is the brainchild of Mike Finn (Pigtown, Killinaskully) and Limerick soprano Sarah Dolan (Master’s Graduate at the Conservatory of Music in San Francisco and daughter of Mick and Valerie of Limerick’s famous Dock Road venue).
This fundraising concert will feature operatic and Irish music most associated with Catherine Hayes. An aria and pieces that were composed for her by Giuseppe Verdi.
For the concert Sarah Dolan will be accompanied in St. Mary’s Cathedral by Colette Davis, Voices of Limerick choir and harpist Aisling Lyons.
The fundraising concert for ‘Nightingale – The Catherine Hayes Story’, featuring Irish soprano Sarah Dolan, takes place at St. Mary’s Cathedral this Thursday June 9, 8pm.
