Irish Tenor John McCormack Made His Boston Debut in April 1910

(Photo courtesy of Irish Music Center, Boston College)

Excerpt from Irish Boston: A Lively Look at Boston's Colorful Irish Past:

"When Irish tenor John McCormack burst onto the music scene in the early 1900s, the Boston Irish rejoiced. Here at last was a worthy purveyor of the ancient melodies of Ireland, and he could also sing opera!

"The Republic newspaper - published in Boston by John "Honey Fitz" FitzGerald - noted McCormack's "superb presence, magnetic personality and rare voice," hailing him as "about as potent an influence for the conservation of what is distinctly Irish...as any that has appeared in our time." (March 26, 1910).

"McCormack made his first Boston appearance on April 2, 1910, performing at the Boston Theatre in the Manhattan Company's production of La Traviata.

"The following year he made his debut at Boston Symphony Hall, one of the great concert venues of the world. Between 1911 and 1936 McCormack performed there sixty-three times, more than any other singer."

For more information on Boston's Irish-American history, visit IrishHeritageTrail.com

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