Zabetta Brenska Explained

Zabetta Brenska
Other Names:	Elizabeth Breen Althouse, Elizabeth Breen Timm (after marriage)
Birth Name:	Elizabeth Breen
Birth Date:	March 1, 1896
Birth Place:	St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Death Place:	New York City, U.S.
Occupation:	Singer

Zabetta Brenska (March 1, 1896 – December 26, 1966), born Elizabeth Breen, was an American singer.

Early life

Elizabeth Breen was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, the daughter of Thomas M. Breen and Rachel Ann Eastwood Breen.^[1] Her paternal grandparents Matthias and Elizabeth Breen were born in Ireland.^[2] She received musical training in Florence.^[3]

Career

Brenska, who sang as a mezzo-soprano^[4] or contralto,^[5] gave recitals and concerts,^[6] sometimes sharing the stage with her first husband, Paul Althouse.^{[7] [8]} She also assisted Althouse with his operatic career, organizing and hand-copying his music and translations. "It was one of our little 'pacts' that after our wedding I should be allowed to work at my music," she explained to an interviewer in 1917.^[9] She expressed admiration for the songs of Black composer Harry T. Burleigh.^[10]

After her second marriage, she lived in the Ringoes section of East Amwell Township, New Jersey and directed community theatre productions and wartime benefit shows there.^{[11] [12]} She also taught Red Cross first aid classes.^[13]

Personal life

Elizabeth Breen married opera singer Paul Shearer Althouse in 1914;^[14] they had daughters Rita Mary (born 1917) and Pauline (born 1919),^{[15] [16]} before they separated in the 1920s^[17] and divorced in 1930.^[18] She married again in 1932, to physician Alexander Berthold Timm,^[19] a widower with two children, Alexander (born 1913) and Renee.^[20] She died in 1966, aged 70 years, in New York City.

Notes and References

1. News: 1931-06-08. Mrs. Thomas Breen. 13. The Minneapolis Star. 2020-09-11. Newspapers.com.
2. News: 1890-01-16. Death of a Prominent Citizen. 3. Star Tribune. 2020-09-11. Newspapers.com.
3. News: 1916-10-31. Zabetta Brenska. 21. The Daily Telegram. 2020-09-11. Newspapers.com.
4. September 1916. A Brilliant Music Season is Promised. New York City Should Establish a 'Board of Music'. The World Court. 2. 115.
5. Book: César Saerchinger . International who's who in music and musical gazetteer. New York. Current Literature Pub. Co . 1918 . 79.
6. March 8, 1917. Zabetta Brenska and her Ermine Coat. Musical Courier. 74. 53.
7. May 10, 1917. Brenska-Althouse in Holyoke. Musical Courier. 74. 45.
8. H. W. J.. November 18, 1916. Mme. Brenska and Paul Althouse Sing in Zanesville, Ohio. Musical America. 25. 21.
9. W. P. M.. January 27, 1917. When a Singer's Wife is his Co-Artist. Musical America. 25. 17.
10. December 1916. Music and Art. The Crisis. 88.
11. News: 1939-11-08. Flemington Club to Present Play 'Family Album'. 4. The Courier-News. 2020-09-11. Newspapers.com.
12. News: 1941-08-23. Benefit Show at Jutland Sunday. 2. The Courier-News. 2020-09-11. Newspapers.com.
13. News: 1942-07-31. Flemington. 2. The Courier-News. 2020-09-11. Newspapers.com.
14. June 14, 1917. 'Co-operative Couple' to Loaf at Lake Winnepesaukee. Musical Courier. 74. 37.
15. News: February 25, 1920. Tenor Who Became Famous Overnight Enjoys Brief Hours With his Family. 6. Ada Evening News. September 10, 2020. Newspapers.com.
16. News: 1938-06-20. News Briefs. 12. The Courier-News. 2020-09-11. Newspapers.com.
17. News: 1930-05-07. Paul Althouse, Tenor, Asks Divorce. 1. Lancaster New Era. 2020-09-11. Newspapers.com.
18. News: 1930-06-03. Paul Althouse Granted Divorce. 6. Harrisburg Telegraph. 2020-09-11. Newspapers.com.
19. News: 1928-06-28. A Doctor-Actor. 40. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 2020-09-11. Newspapers.com.
20. Book: Downs, Winfield Scott. Encyclopedia of American Biography: New Series. 1934. American Historical Society. 122. en.