| The Encyclopedia Brittannica said that
Clara Louise Kellogg was, "the first native American prima donna and the
first to achieve success in Europe." However, few people know that she
spent her formative years in Derby. Though she was born in Sumterville,
South Carolina, she and her parents lived in Derby during her early
years. By the age of 14, her talents were obvious and she was studying
music formally and had made her New York debut before the age of 20.
After building an American operatic career, she moved on to Europe
and opened in London in 1867. Her career reached its zenith with a
triumphal tour of Russia in 1880 and 1881. She was also noted in the
United States for her work in organizing her own company which presented
operatic performances in English. She retired in 1887 and she died in
New Hartford in 1916. Before her death, she published
Memoirs of an American Prima Donna.
Our thanks to Randy Ritter for suggesting
this quiz!
Correct answers were received from: Joan
Driscoll, Marsha Pettingill, Markanthony Izzo, Mayor Marc J. Garofalo,
Dave Joel, Gary Lungarini, Gene Wajdowicz, Dominick Thomas, Paul
Comkowycz, Ben Jones, Henry Wajdowicz, Dave Petz, Robert Loftus, Vinny
Minardi, Kimberly Shelton, Jack Skelding, Millie from Ansonia, and Jay Decho.
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