Jenny Lind- the Swedish Nightingale
Are you living in the U.S. with Swedish roots? In this land of immigrants, many people have Scandinavian ancestry, and in my home state of Illinois, about two percent of the population identifies as Swedish-Americans. While that might be impressive, it is dwarfed by Minnesota where that number is over 7%! That might explain why so many people are interested in reconnecting with their Scandinavian heritage. I have clients from all backgrounds that are learning to speak Swedish while exploring Swedish modern culture, history, and traditions. Nothing gives people that sense of connection to a culture as being able to speak and understand the language! A popular topic in my lessons is famous Swedes, so in today’s blog, I thought I would share the story of Jenny Lind, one of the most internationally known Swedes of the 19th century.
Born on October 6, 1820, in Stockholm, Sweden, Jenny Lind became one of the most celebrated musicians of the 19th century. She was recognized for her vocal talents which were considered to be among the best of her generation. At a young age, her skills in playing the piano and singing began to be displayed, leading her to be known locally. She became a professional singer at the age of 18, and in a few years, she established herself as a leading soprano in Europe.
Jenny Lind’s reputation soon spread, and she was offered contracts in several European opera centers. At the age of 28, she embarked on a tour of the United Kingdom, and soon after, one of North America. Lind would travel a great deal over the course of several years throughout continental Europe, Ireland, Great Britain and the United States. Her concert tours in America in 1850 and 1851 were highly successful, attracting such large audiences, that some concerts had to be held in the open air.
Jenny Lind was admired for her pure, high soprano voice and gentle manner. Her art was often viewed as representing the spirit of the earlier Romantic era which greatly endeared her to audiences. Queen Victoria publicly called her, “the greatest singer of our age" and her talent quickly gained her multiple nicknames and titles among audiences in Europe and America, including "the Swedish Nightingale" and "the greatest singer of the century."
What made Jenny Lind stand out was her commitment to philanthropy. Usually, her earnings were donated to hospitals, charities, and causes that she deemed worthy. It was said that Lind felt compelled to give away most of her earnings in order to mitigate the idea that female musicians were only concerned about their own self-gain. Furthermore, many of the concertgoers were less fortunate classical music lovers who otherwise would most likely have not been able to experience what it was to attend a world-class performance. She was also given a number of very lavish items by people who admired her, such as jewelry and expensive items of clothing, which she had auctioned off and the result distributed to foundations which she had an affiliation with.
Jenny Lind had an extraordinary life with quite the musical career. Apparently, she seldom gave interviews but she managed to write a brief autobiography in 1851, titled Memoirs of Jenny Lind. Lind never intended to retire as a musician. However, following her American tour, she suffered an injury in which her vocal cords became severely strained so much so that it ended her singing career. She retired shortly afterward but continued to give lessons, lecture occasionally, and impressed in several other fields. In 1852 she married the German composer Otto Goldschmidt and spent the quiet years traveling and living abroad.
Jenny Lind’s legacy lives on to this day. She impacted the public view on female musicians and representation while showcasing amazing talents out of her love of music providing influence for present-day females in the music industry. She was also an advocate for charities, philanthropy, and music education for young people. There’s no doubt that Jenny Lind had a significant impact on the classical music industry and American culture overall. Her life, career, and contribution to society long outlived her and will continue into the future leaving behind an admirable example of what it means to stick to one’s principles and leave a little bit of good behind in everything we do in life.
I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit of history today. If you are interested in Swedish lessons for any reason you can sign up for live instructions with me on my website. I customize my private lessons and group classes to fit your needs. Sign up for a free trial or consultation today using the button below!
