Representative women of New England/Gertrude F. Salisbury
GERTRUDE FRANKLIN SALISBURY, better known to the musical world as Gertrude. Franklin and in private life as Virginia Beatty Salisbury, is one of the most widely and favorably known of Boston's vocal teachers. She was born in Baltimore, Md., September 4, 1858, and belongs to a wealthy and aristocratic family. Her father, Mr. John Beatty, of Baltimore was the son of the late Mr. James Beatty, an eminent merchant of Baltimore, who held positions of great trust under President Madison. Her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Jackson Beatty, was the daughter of the Rev. William Jackson, a native of England. Among other distinguished ancestors was her great-grandfather, Gunning Bedford, who for a short time in the Revolutionary War was aide-de-camp to General .Washington. He represented Delaware in the Continental Congress, 1783 to 1786, and was a prominent member of the convention that framed the Constitution of the United States. Miss Franklin's parents removed to Boston
when she was four years old, and her early schooling was received in that city. Her musical education began when she was a young girl, and at the age of thirteen she gave promise of being a brilliant pianist. Her taste, however, was for vocal music rather than instrumental, and, prompted by natural inclination and the possession of a voice of remarkable sweetness and purity, she began to take lessons in singing. Mr. Aaron Taylor and Signor Agramonti were her first teachers, and on the advice of the latter she went to Paris, where she studied under Madame Lagrange and with Professor Barbot of the Conservatoire. Before leaving Paris, Miss Franklin appeared at a concert at the Salle Érard, and achieved encouraging success, which was emphasized by immediate offers of concert engagements and for a season of Italian opera. These flattering offers she was, however, obliged to decline, as she had made arrangements to go to London. Here she studied with Shakespeare and Alberto Randegger, the latter being so pleased with her voice that he besought her to remain and make a career in England. But she had been too long absent from American soil, and in her eagerness to return she declined not only this offer but one to join Carl Rosa's English Opera Company. On returning home she took an extended course of study under Madame Rudersdorff for oratorio and the more serious range of classical concert music.
Miss Franklin has appeared in the symphony concerts of Boston, New York, and Brooklyn, and in classical and other concerts in most of the large cities of the United States. Her work has been under the leadership of such men as Theodore Thomas, Walter Damrosch, Emil Paur, Karlberg, Henschel, Gericke, Nikisch, Tomlins, and Gilchrist. Her concert work was remarkable apart from her fine voice because of the extent of her repertoire. She sings in French, German, Italian, and English, and has the proud distinction of having the largest repertoire of any American singer, also the largest collection of arias and orchestra scores for the concert stage. Miss Franklin has never repeated a programme in the same place, or an aria, unless called upon at a moment's notice to sing without rehearsal.
In April, 1896, Miss Franklin married Mr. W. C. G. Salisbury, of Boston, and retired from public life to devote her time to teaching. As an instructor, she has been even more successful than as a singer. Her pupils are on the operatic, concert, and oratorio platform in Europe and America.