Profile of the Day: Jenny Lind

Posted September 11, 2014 by Amanda | No Comment

Jenny Lind

Do you have Swedish connections? On this day in 1850, legendary opera singer Jenny Lind gave her first concert in the United States at the Castle Garden in New York. Known as the “Swedish Nightingale,” Lind was one of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century. A sensation across Europe, Lind was persuaded by showman P.T. Barnum to undertake a long tour across the U.S. Barnum’s advance publicity made her a celebrity before she arrived in the U.S. and tickets were in such high demand that Barnum sold them by auction. By the time of her arrival, she received a wild reception, which the press dubbed as “Lind Mania.” She gave 93 large-scale concerts for him and then continued to tour under her own management. The tour was a huge, financial success. She donated her profits to her favorite charities, with the principal going to free schools in Sweden.

There are no recordings of Lind’s voice, but she is believed to have made an early phonograph recording for Thomas Edison.

Explore Jenny Lind’s family tree on Geni and discover your connection to the Swedish Nightingale!