James Sauvage

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James Sauvage (born James Savage), (9 May 1849 - 27 November 1922) was a Welsh baritone singer.

James Sauvage in 1877

Sauvage grew up in the mining community of Penrhos, Rhosllanerchrugog, Wales, the son of Thomas and Mary Savage of The Square. He began working in one of the local collieries, the Brandie Pit No. 6 at Ruabon, before he was nine year old and, even at that young age, worked a twelve hour day! His musical talents appeared at an early age and as a child his voice was highly appreciated in local concerts and eisteddfodau, and he sang alto in the choir at the Calvinistic Methodist Capel Mawr (lit. "Big Chapel") in Rhos.

At the age of eighteen James, with several other young men from Rhos, left to seek work in the coalfields of Ohio in the United States. A few years later, in the town of Jackson, Ohio, James met Lewis William Lewis (known by his bardic name of ‘Llew Llwyfo’) of Llanwenllwyfo, Anglesey, Wales. Lewis was touring the Welsh communities of the USA with a concert party he had brought over from Wales. Llew Llwyfo managed to persuade James Savage to give up his job in the mines and join the concert party, a decision which changed the course of James’ life. James Savage married Eleanor Lewis, the daughter of his mentor Llew Llwyfo, in the United States and their first child Lillian was born there in 1872.

On returning to Wales, James began to make a name for himself in the musical world, and was frequently called upon to perform at the National Eisteddfod. It was around this time that he began using the surname Sauvage. Their second child Thomas (always to be known as ‘Tonzo’) was born in Rhyl, Wales in 1874 and their third child, Vilda, was born in Aberystwyth, Wales in 1875. He gained a place at the Royal Academy of Music, London, England and in two years, the shortest time in record there for a student, won the bronze, silver, and gold medals. James was later elected associate of the institution and soon after became a Fellow of the Royal Academy. James and Eleanor’s fourth child, Mary Blodwen, was born in Fulham, London, England in 1877. Although he started his singing career as a tenor he later developed as a world-famous baritone. He was widely known as an operatic singer, and for a number of years was a member of the Carl Rosa English Opera Company, and his repertoire included the standard English, French and Italian works.

James continued to make regular visits to the United States and eventually the family settled there in Lincoln Park, Newark, New Jersey. James took up the position of Director of Music at the Peddie Memorial Church in Newark and later was appointed Professor of Singing at Vassar College in New York. They had two further children, Louis Idris in 1885 and James Elwyn in 1890, both born in Newark, and James eventually became a naturalised United States citizen.

Every summer James made his annual ‘pilgrimage’ back to Rhosllanerchrugog, travelling in some style between New York and Liverpool on the best of the Cunard Line liners. James made his last visit to Rhos in the summer of 1922.

Professor James Sauvage died in Newark, New Jersey on 27th November, 1922. David Lloyd George, who later became British Prime Minister, wrote of James Sauvage: “About thirty five year ago he was the principal vocalist in the Criccieth Eisteddfod. After having charmed the thousands who came to listen to him from the hills and valleys, he came home with me for a cup of tea. When he learned that my mother could not attend the eisteddfod, owing to ill health, he sang to her all of his programme of songs and encores, with the same vigour and enthusiasm that he displayed in singing to the thousands. What pleasure this gave to my dear old mother. Ever since, there has been a warm spot in my heart for the famous musician.”