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Jenny Lind was a Swedish soprano singer. She
was popularly known as the Swedish Nightingale. She was
born Johanna Maria Lind in Stockholm on October 6th,
1820. In 1838 she made her singing debut in the opera Der
Freischütz, written by the German composer Carl Maria
von Weber. The opera was performed at the Stockholm Opera
where she had the leading role soprano as Agathe. As
a result of this performance Lind achieved immediate
success. After an extensive tour of Europe, she toured
the United States from 1850 to 1852. Managed by the American
showman P. T. Barnum. Andersen met Jenny Lind and was
taken by her. Some claim that his tale, "The
Nightingale," was written with her in mind.
Andersen hoped to marry Jenny Lind, but this was not
to be. In 1852 Jenny Lind married Otto Goldschmidt, who
conducted the Bach Choir in London. After her return
to Europe, she lived for a few years in Dresden, Germany,
and afterward settled in London, becoming a British citizen
in 1859. She died in Malvern, Worcestershire, England
on November 2nd,1887.
The Jenny Lind archive is at North
Park College in Chicago.
S. Mellor |
