A Swedish Soprano, an American Showman, and the Greatest Concert Tour

In ‘This Week in History,’ the ‘Swedish Nightingale’ arrived in New York to begin her historic concert tour thanks to America’s ‘greatest showman.’
A Swedish Soprano, an American Showman, and the Greatest Concert Tour
Jenny Lind, the "Swedish Nightingale," became popular in America through heavy promotion by America's "Greatest Showman." Public Domain
Dustin Bass
Updated:
0:00

At the age of 9, Johanna Maria Lind stood before a singing master for the Royal Theatre in Stockholm, Sweden. As the little girl sang, the teacher was brought to tears at the beauty of such a young voice. Lind was given a scholarship to become a student at the Royal Dramatic Theatre, where she was taught the elements of the opera―acting, dancing, and singing.

In 1833, approximately four years after that initial private performance, Lind performed in 22 theatrical performances. The now-teenage vocal prodigy was swiftly moving toward centerstage. In 1837, she was provided her first annual contract; but it was in 1838, performing one of the leading roles in Carl Maria von Weber’s “Der Freischütz” at the Royal Swedish Opera, that her star soared and she became “the declared favourite of the Swedish public.”

Dustin Bass
Dustin Bass
Author
Dustin Bass is the creator and host of the American Tales podcast, and co-founder of The Sons of History. He writes two weekly series for The Epoch Times: Profiles in History and This Week in History. He is also an author.