NOUVER, ELIZABETH [PEARSON, Elizabeth] (b Newton Heath, Manchester, c 1846; d 9 Lichfield Gardens, Richmond, Surrey, 4 June 1888)

This chapter presents a biography of mid- to late-19th-century singer Elizabeth Nouver. Madame Nouver', or Mrs Elizabeth Hemingway, was the former Elizabeth Pearson, daughter of Hemingway senior's partner Charles Pearson. The Pearson family can be seen in the 1851 census living in Bangor: Dewsbury-born Charles, his wife Betsy and their daughters Eliza, Mary and Elizabeth. In 1874, John Hemingway, his civil engineering firm, and his wife and six children had moved to 24 Dover Street, Oxford, Manchester, and now, evidently, Mrs Hemingway began singing in earnest. Madame took part in the Manchester de Jong concerts: 'a local prima donna', amazed the local press after Elizabeth's rendition of 'Let the bright seraphim', 'and her voice is remarkably fine'. She also appeared in Charles Hallé's concerts, singing The Creation with Rigby and Foli. Madame sang Acis and Galatea with the Liverpool Philharmonic Society; in November it was Exeter Hall again in Israel in Egypt, alongside Elton, Lloyd, Lewis Thomas and Robert Hilto.