Throughout my life, I have had a large interest in music. Many of my family members played instruments both before I was born and after. My grandfather on my father’s side of the family even owned a music store and instrument repair shop. The first time that I began playing an instrument was when I started to take piano lessons at the age of six. From then on, I took an interest in music. I played in my school concert band from sixth through tenth grade, and I was in my high school marching band from ninth to twelfth grade. In both concert band and marching band I played percussion. Seeing the musicality in my family’s history is something that I find interesting as well.
Clorinda Thurtle in 1922.
Articles critiquing Clorinda Thurtle in “The Spanish Princess” in 1904.
One of my ancestors, in particular, was an opera singer. Her name was Clorinda Thurtle. Clorinda was born in 1875 in London, England. She was my third great aunt on my mother’s side. Clorinda was a vocalist who spent most of her career in England singing in various performances. One opera scene was entitled “The Spanish Princess,” and was performed in February of 1904 in England. Clorinda appeared as a songstress of Spain and sang a love ballad written by Harrington and Le Brun. One critic in the English newspaper, The Era, wrote, “…Miss Thurtell’s cultured voice is heard agreeably, her extensive experience in grand opera enabling her to give breadth and tone to the dramatic cadences of the air…” Another critic from the English newspaper, Brixton Free Press, wrote, “The Spanish Princess is a one-woman operetta especially suited to Miss Thurtell (for whom indeed it was written), and the novelty and completeness of its production make it an assured success.” These reviews of one of Clorinda’s performances illustrate that she was a very good and successful opera singer. By having many performances in the past myself, I can really relate to the amount of work that she had to put into her music in order to be so successful.
Clorinda Thurtle’s performance in Lima, Ohio.
Clorinda’s sister, May Thurtle, came over to the United States in the early 1900’s and married my great-great grandfather on my mother’s side. In the winter of 1913, Clorinda came over to the United States to not only visit her sister but also to do a performance in Lima, Ohio. The title of the performance was “The Milestones” which was produced by Arnold Bennett and Edward Knoblauch. Clorinda sang two songs during the performance: “The Jewel Song” and “Carmenia.” An article in The Lima Daily News stated, “Madame Thurtle has been trained by the best instructors of the old world…” Clorinda was a well-liked and well-trained vocalist who was very successful in her career. I am very proud of the rich history of music in my family.
Works Consulted
“Dramatic Reader Will Give Program.” Lima Daily News [Lima, Ohio] 16 November 1913: 14-15. Print.