Memoir of Madame Jenny Lind-Goldschmidt
Her Early Art-Life and Dramatic Career, 1820–1851

A two-volume memoir based on the letters and diaries of renowned soprano Jenny Lind (1820–87), published in 1891.

Henry Scott Holland (Author), William Smith Rockstro (Author)

9781108038690, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 20 October 2011

520 pages, 7 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2.9 cm, 0.65 kg

Jenny Lind (1820–87) was one of Europe's most famous opera singers. Known as the 'Swedish Nightingale', she first rose to prominence in an 1838 performance of Weber's Freischütz. Despite her immense success over the next ten years, she retired from the stage at the age of twenty-nine. Seeking financial security to pursue her charitable interests, in 1850 she accepted the invitation of impresario P. T. Barnum to undertake a tour of the United States; this was another succession of triumphs. Henry Scott Holland (1847–1918), the theologian and social reformer, and music writer William Smith Rockstro (1823–95) used Lind's own documents, letters and diaries as the basis of this two-volume memoir, published in 1891, which focuses on the first thirty-one years of her life. Volume 2 discusses some of Lind's most memorable performances in Europe and the reasons for her first retirement; it ends with her departure for America.

Book VI. Work and Friends: 1. In Munich
2. South Germany
3. The return to Vienna
4. Vielka
5. The shadow
Book VII. Supremacy: 1. Managerial difficulties
2. Suspense
3. Triumph
4. At Clairville
5. La Sonnambula
6. La Figlia del Reggimento
7. The Queen's state visit to the opera
8. La Tempesta
9. I Masnadieri
10. Le Nozze di Figaro
11. By command of the Queen
12. In the provinces
13. At Norwich
14. At Norwich (continued)
Book VIII. The Goal: 1. New triumphs at Berlin
2. Home again
3. The re-appearance at Her Majesty's Theatre
4. I Puritani
5. Concert for the Brompton Hospital
6. The close of the season
7. Elijah
8. For charity
9. The stage and the drama
10. The last opera
11. The method
12. Friends in England
Book IX. Fruition: 1. How did Jenny Lind come to leave the stage?
2. Wanderings at ease
3. Lübeck
4. Home once more
5. Departure
Last words
Index.

Subject Areas: Classical music [c 1750 to c 1830 AVGC4]