Jenny Lind

Jenny Lind
Eduard Magnus · Public domain · source
Name	Jenny Lind
Birth date	October 6, 1820
Birth place	Stockholm, Sweden
Death date	November 2, 1887
Death place	Malvern, Worcestershire, England
Occupation	Opera singer

Jenny Lind was a renowned Swedish opera singer, often regarded as one of the most prominent singers of the 19th century, known for her performances in Europe and the United States, particularly with Felix Mendelssohn and Giuseppe Verdi. She was admired by Queen Victoria and King Oscar I of Sweden, and her talent was recognized by Franz Liszt and Robert Schumann. Lind's voice was praised by Richard Wagner and Hector Berlioz, and she was a frequent performer at the Royal Opera House in London and the Paris Opera. Her early life and training laid the foundation for her successful career, which was marked by performances with notable conductors such as Louis Spohr and Daniel-François-Esprit Auber.

Early Life and Training

Jenny Lind was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and began her musical training at the Royal Swedish Opera, where she studied with Carl Magnus Craelius and Karl Gustaf af Leopold. She made her debut at the Royal Swedish Opera in 1838, performing in Erik Gustaf Geijer's opera and later studying with Manuel Garcia in Paris. Lind's early performances were influenced by Gioachino Rossini and Gaetano Donizetti, and she was soon recognized as a talented young singer by Ferdinand Ries and Ignaz Moscheles. She continued her training in Paris, where she met Frédéric Chopin and Eugène Delacroix, and later performed in Vienna with Johann Nepomuk Hummel and Carl Czerny.

Career

Lind's career spanned over three decades, during which she performed in numerous opera houses, including the La Scala in Milan, the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, and the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London. She was known for her performances in operas such as Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor and Verdi's La traviata, and she worked with notable conductors such as Giovanni Battista Rubini and Michael Costa. Lind's talent was recognized by Ludwig van Beethoven and Johannes Brahms, and she was a frequent performer at the Leipzig Gewandhaus and the Berlin State Opera. She also performed with Christoph Willibald Gluck and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's music, and was admired by Felix Mendelssohn and Robert Schumann.

Personal Life

Jenny Lind married Otto Goldschmidt, a German conductor and composer, in 1852, and the couple had three children together. She was a close friend of Charles Dickens and Harriet Beecher Stowe, and was known for her philanthropic work, particularly in the field of music education. Lind was also a supporter of the London Orphan Asylum and the Royal College of Music, and she performed at numerous benefit concerts for these organizations, including the Crystal Palace and the Royal Albert Hall. She was admired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and was a frequent guest at the Buckingham Palace and the Windsor Castle.

Legacy

Jenny Lind's legacy extends far beyond her own performances, as she inspired a generation of singers, including Christine Nilsson and Adelina Patti. She was a pioneer for women in music, and her talent and dedication paved the way for future generations of female singers. Lind's music was also an inspiration to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Sergei Rachmaninoff, and she was a frequent performer at the Moscow Conservatory and the St. Petersburg Conservatory. Her legacy continues to be celebrated today, with numerous opera houses and concert halls around the world hosting performances of her music, including the Metropolitan Opera and the Sydney Opera House.

Tour of the United States

In 1850, Jenny Lind embarked on a highly successful tour of the United States, where she performed in numerous cities, including New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia. The tour was organized by P.T. Barnum, and it marked a significant milestone in Lind's career, as she became an international sensation, known for her captivating performances and charitable work. During the tour, Lind performed with Louis Moreau Gottschalk and William Henry Fry, and she was admired by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The tour was a huge success, and it helped to establish Lind as one of the most popular singers of her time, with performances at the Broadway Theatre and the Academy of Music (New York City). She also performed at the White House for President Millard Fillmore and First Lady Abigail Fillmore, and was a guest of honor at the United States Capitol and the Library of Congress.