December
1
Some Tidbits and Anecdotes from RIPM:
Jenny Lind
Proposed By Marten Noorduin
Here are a few entertaining anecdotes from the musical press about Jenny Lind. As today is Friday, perhaps they will set the right tone for your weekend.
Strenna Teatrale Europea, Vol. 11 No. 1 (1848): [II pc].
In the 1850s American showman P.T. Barnum arranged a tour of the United States for the Swedish Nightingale, the celebrated soprano Jenny Lind. These three anecdotes and two illustrations reflect the immense success of the tour.
The sale of tickets for a Jenny Lind concert in America
L’Illustration, Vol. XVI (23 November 1850): 325.
L’Illustration, Vol. XVI (23 November 1850): 325.
Saroni’s Musical Times, Vol. 1 No. 51 (14 September 1850): 601.
The Musical World, Vol. XXVI [XXIX] No. 38 (20 September 1851): 605.
The Message Bird, Vol. 2 No. 36 (15 January 1851): 590.
Punch; Or, London Charivari, Vol. 19 (1850): 146.
Throughout her career, musical tributes for the Swedish Nightingale abounded. In fact, the collection of The National Museum of American History holds the sheet music of an 1846 piece written in honor of Jenny Lind composed by Anton Wallerstein and entitled, “Jenny Lind’s Favorite Polka”. If one believes that the popularity of her name was limited to the 19th-century, here is a surprising 1956 example reflecting its presence in the 20th.