Enrique Granados' life was cut short tragically, in a quirk of fate, shortly after receiving an invitation to perform at The White House. Mr. and Mrs. Granados had traveled to New York where his opera, La Goyescas, was performed to critical success. Shortly after its premiere, President Wilson invited Granados to come to Washington and perform at The White House. In order to complete the arrangements before returning to Spain, the composer changed his travel plans at the last minute and decided instead to sail to London and then take a ferry, The Sussex, across the English Channel. Apparently midway across the Channel, Granados was entertaining other passengers at a piano in one of the lounges when, suddenly a German submarine torpedo struck the ferry with the fiery explosion sending passengers into lifeboats and the cold Channel waters. Amidst the turmoil, The Granadoses were separated; however, both in the water, he found her clinging to a raft and joined her, gave her a hug and then the two disappeared under the water.