Opera Scotland

Jenny Lind

Posted 20 Apr 2011

Here at Opera Scotland as we reconstruct Scotland's operatic history, we have a working assumption that most of the world's greatest singers came to Scotland to perform. One such was one of the best known nineteenth century singers, the Swedish soprano Jenny Lind, known as the Swedish Nightingale.

She came to the UK in 1847, when she performed in concert. In the autumn of 1848, she toured the provinces again, performing in staged opera in both Edinburgh (Theatre Royal) and Glasgow (Theatre Royal). She sang three roles, Amina in La Sonnambula (twice) Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor and Marie in Figlia del Regimento . Opinions differ as to her acting ability, but not her singing. Scots were lucky to hear her in her prime. She announced her retiral from the stage in spring 1849, following which she performed extensively on the concert platform, also visiting cities north of the central belt..