A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Pyne, Louisa

PYNE, Louisa Fanny, daughter of George Pyne (alto singer, born 1790, died March 15, 1877), and niece of James Kendrick Pyne (tenor singer, died Sept. 23, 1857), was born in 1832. At a very early age she studied singing under Sir George Smart, and about 1842 appeared in public with her elder sister, Susan (afterwards Mrs. Galton) [App. p.766 "omit the words (afterwards Mrs. Galton). Susan, or more correctly Susannah, Pyne, married Mr. F. H. Standing, a baritone singer, known professionally as Celli; Mrs. Galton was another sister, who had no repute as a singer.], with great success. In 1847 the sisters performed in Paris. In Aug. 1849 Louisa made her first appearance on the stage at Boulogne as Amina in 'La Sonnambula.' On Oct. 1 following she commenced an engagement at the Princess's Theatre as Zerlina, in an English version of 'Don Juan.' Her first original part was Fanny in Macfarren's 'Charles the Second,' produced Oct. 27, 1849. On March 1850 she sang at the Philharmonic; was engaged the same year at Liverpool, and in 1851 at The Haymarket. On Aug. 14, 1851, she performed the Queen of Night in 'Il Flauto Magico' at the Royal Italian Opera. She also sang in oratorios and at concerts. In Aug. 1854 she embarked for America in company with her sister Susan, W. Harrison, and Borrani. She performed in the principal cities of the United States for three years, being received everywhere with the greatest favour. On her return to England [App. p.766 "1858" she, in partnership with Harrison, formed a company for the performance of English operas, which they gave first at the Lyceum and afterwards at Drury Lane and Covent Garden Theatres, until 1862, when the partnership was dissolved. [See Harrison, William, vol. i. p. 692b]. Miss Pyne subsequently appeared at Her Majesty's Theatre. In 1868 she was married to Mr. Frank Bodda, the baritone singer. She has now retired from public life, and devotes herself to teaching. Her voice was a soprano of beautiful quality and great compass and flexibility; she sang with great taste and judgment, and excelled in the florid style, of which she was a perfect mistress.

[ W. H. H. ]