Jenny Lind
Who was Jenny Lind?
Swedish opera singer known as the "Swedish Nightingale" who became one of the most celebrated sopranos of the 19th century.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Jenny Lind (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Johanna Maria Lind, known as Jenny Lind and later as Madame Goldschmidt, was born on October 6, 1820, in the Klara Church Parish of Stockholm, Sweden. She became one of the most famous sopranos of the nineteenth century, earning the nickname the 'Swedish Nightingale' thanks to performances that wowed audiences in Europe and North America. Her career included opera, concerts, and charity work, making her an important figure in both art and culture.
Lind's big break came in 1838 when she played Agathe in Carl Maria von Weber's Der Freischütz at the Royal Swedish Opera. Her early career almost ended due to vocal issues, but she studied with the famous singing teacher Manuel García, who helped restore her voice and improve her skills. By the 1840s, she was one of the most in-demand opera singers in Sweden and northern Europe and developed a close relationship with composer Felix Mendelssohn. She joined the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in 1840, recognizing her significant achievements at a young age. Despite her success in opera, she retired from the stage at 29 after two popular seasons in London.
In 1850, American showman P. T. Barnum arranged for Lind to tour the United States, creating a huge cultural event. She performed 93 concerts under Barnum's management before continuing on her own. She earned over $350,000 from these concerts, money she mostly donated to charity, notably to fund free schools in Sweden. Her success in America showed that classical singing could attract widespread public interest beyond traditional opera fans.
In 1852, Lind married German-British pianist and conductor Otto Goldschmidt, and they had three children together. They settled permanently in England in 1855. Though she reduced her performance schedule, she continued to give concerts occasionally for the next three decades. Starting in 1882, she taught singing at the Royal College of Music in London, passing on her skills to new singers. Jenny Lind died on November 2, 1887, in Malvern, England, leaving behind a legacy of artistic talent and ongoing philanthropy.
Before Fame
Jenny Lind was born in Stockholm in 1820, into a modest background. Her parents weren't married when she was born, and she had an unstable home life, with her mother eventually leaving her in the care of others during parts of her childhood. Her singing talent was noticed while she was still young, and she got into the Royal Theatre's drama school in Stockholm, getting early vocal training that set her on a path to a professional stage career.
By her late teens, Lind had already performed in opera roles in Sweden, but it was her 1838 performance at the Royal Swedish Opera that really highlighted her extraordinary talent. Her voice suffered strain in the following years, but intervention by Manuel García in Paris was crucial. García's disciplined teaching not only fixed the damage but also provided her with the technical skills needed for one of the most demanding careers in 19th-century opera.
Key Achievements
- Elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in 1840, one of the youngest performers to receive the honor
- Completed a record-breaking American concert tour in 1850–1852, earning over $350,000 and donating proceeds to fund free schools in Sweden
- Acclaimed in leading soprano roles at major opera houses across Sweden, Germany, and London throughout the 1840s
- Appointed professor of singing at the Royal College of Music in London from 1882, shaping vocal education in Britain
- Inspired Felix Mendelssohn to compose the soprano aria 'Hear Ye, Israel' in his oratorio Elijah specifically for her voice
Did You Know?
- 01.P. T. Barnum promoted Lind's American tour so aggressively before her arrival that the public frenzy around her became known as 'Lind mania,' with merchandise including Jenny Lind hats, gloves, and furniture sold across the country.
- 02.Lind donated the entire proceeds from her American concerts to charitable causes, primarily funding the establishment of free schools in Sweden, an act of philanthropy unusual in scale for a performing artist of that era.
- 03.Felix Mendelssohn was so impressed by Lind that he wrote the soprano aria 'Hear Ye, Israel' in his oratorio Elijah with her voice specifically in mind.
- 04.At the first concert of her American tour in Castle Garden, New York, in September 1850, tickets were auctioned rather than sold at fixed prices, with one buyer paying $225 for the first ticket — equivalent to several months' wages for an average worker.
- 05.Despite being one of the most famous opera singers of her time, Lind retired from opera entirely at the age of 29, thereafter performing exclusively in concerts and oratorios rather than staged productions.