Object of the Day

Jenny Lind Concert Program

November 22

In 1850, Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind (October 6, 1820 - November 2, 1887) undertook a major tour of the United States, under the management of showman P. T. Barnum. This concert program was from a performance at Musical Fund Hall in Philadelphia.

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Jenny Lind Concert Program, October 19, 1850

Description

This printed program is from a concert given by Jenny Lind at the Musical Fund Hall in Philadelphia on October 19, 1850. The inside back cover features the portraits of Jenny Lind, promoter P.T. Barnum, baritone Giovani Belletti, and pianist, arranger and conductor Jules Benedict.

Johanna Maria “Jenny” Lind (1820-1887) was a Swedish soprano, famously known as the "Swedish Nightingale." She was one of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century. American showman P. T. Barnum contracted Lind to undertake a concert tour throughout the United States beginning in 1850. Lind terminated her contract with Barnum amicably in 1851 and continued to tour for nearly a year under her own management.

Advance publicity created such a demand for concert tickets that Barnum sold them at auction. Throughout the tour, popular frenzy for Jenny Lind tickets and merchandise created “Lindomania” raising large sums of money for Lind and Barnum. Lind donated much of her profits to charitable causes.

Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Museum of American History
referenced
Lind, Jenny
Barnum, P. T.
date made
1850
Credit Line
Gift of Sarah Ella Cummings
Physical Description
paper (overall material)
ink (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 8 3/4 in x 5 1/2 in; 22.225 cm x 13.97 cm
Object Name
program