A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Treffz, Jetty
TREFFZ, JETTY,
Within the last few years this name has become familiar as a household word in the musical circles of England, as it had previously been in those of the Continent. It is that by which a celebrated public singer chooses to be known, although Treffz is only her family name by the maternal side. Henrietta de Th****d, her proper designation, was born at Vienna, on the 28th. June, 1826; her father, a Polish gentleman, was an officer in the Austrian service, and her mother was the daughter of the beautiful Laura Schwam, beloved and immortalized by the poet Frederick Schiller. The fair Laura was married to Professor Treffz, and the offspring of this union was Jetty's mother, who having ample means, gave her daughter the best education that could be procured. But reverses of fortune happening when the subject of our sketch was about thirteen years old, the young girl's musical talents were cultivated with a view to her future subsistence. The first instructor under whom she was placed, was an Italian professor named Gentelhuomo. She made remarkable progress, and soon attracted the attention of Merilli, the director of the Viennese Italian Opera, who engaged her, but did not at once assign her a part, in consequence of which she threw up the engagement and went to Dresden, where, in her fifteenth year, she made her debût as "Giuletta," in Bellini's opera "L'Capuletti ed i Montecehi," Sehroeder Deorient being the "Romeo." Her success was complete; so struck was the Queen of Saxony with her talents, that she had her placed under the celebrated Morlacchi's tuition at her own expense. After a brilliant season at Dresden, Jetty went to Leipsic, where she attracted the notice of Mendelsohn, who did all in his power to assist her. He taught her his songs, and composed one of the most celebrated of them, the well-known "Volksleid," expressly for her. After performing in most of the German cities, with still increasing success, she, in the revolutionary year, 1848, came to England and sung before the classical audience of our Philharmonic Society; her fine mezzo soprano voice was extremely admired, as well as the taste and simplicity of her management of its powers; she sang before the Queen and became a musical star of London and the provinces, getting encores and thunders of applause wherever she appeared. Up to the present time she has continued to delight English audiences with her fine vocal powers, to the attractions of which she adds the advantage of a pretty and piquante expression of face, attractive manners, and a most amiable character, and all the accomplishments of a thoroughly educated gentlewoman. Like Jenny Lind, she is ever ready to assist in a work of charity, and her brother or sister artistes in misfortune, have frequently found a ready friend and sympathizer in Jetty Treffz.