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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4662, 2 March 1894, Page 2

The news of the sudden and tragio death of Madame Patey will bo received with" genuine regret by many admirers of the famous contralto both nt Home and in the Colonies. She visititl New Zealand a few years ago, and some of our readers may have beard her. It may almost be said that slut died on the stage for the cabin tells us that sbo fainted at a concert in Sheffield abd expired nithin a few houi'B. By birtli a Londoner, she was of Scottish descent, and it is related that when she made her first appearance at Birmingham, ihe expression of their appreciation by her delighted audience so terrified the (ÜbulanU that " stagefright " completely tonk possession of her and it was somo months before she regained her usual health. Iu oratorio singing, she won her greatest triumphs, and as showing the appreciation in whioh she, was held by the beßt judges, she sang at four performances of the Messiah at Paris in 1874 and not only was the highest praise showered upon her, but she was invited to sing at two Conservatoire Concerts—an honour rarely conceded to an English vooalist. By her- comparatively early death at 52, the world of song is distinctly poorer.