Born: 8 September 1850, Slovakia
Died: 18 January 1926
Country most active: Hungary
Also known as: Ludovika Reindl
The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
Louise Blaha was born in 1850 and she died in 1926. Her father was an actor, and Louise and her mother travelled with him. At the age of thirteen she was an accomplished actress. She had great success in 1864 at the People’s Theatre in Buda in the popular drama Csikos (Cowboy). In 1866 she married John Blaha, the conductor of the theatre at Szabadka. He died in 1870. She had unparalleled successes on the stage of the Hungarian National Theatre. Her marvelous voice brought her success even in Vienna. Her kindness, charm and undeniable talent secured her every recognition which the Hungarian nation lavishly confers upon its favorites. “Nightingale of the Nation” was the pet name given to her. Even in her late years she received great ovations. The King decorated her with the Golden Cross of Merit.
She died in 1926. She was for the Hungarians not only a great woman and a great artist but the embodiment of the Hungarian unsophisticated charm and genius. At the beginning of her career this extraordinary woman did more than anyone to popularize the Hungarian language in Budapest where usually German dramas had been played.