The New York herald., 1850-05-13

LONDON, April Is, 1850,
Jenny Lind


Jenny Lind.
The morning after her first appearance, the vari-
GUS English journals were curiously read by those
who had assisted at it, With one exception, they
were unanimous and warm in her favor The
Times, the M~~ing Post, the Morning Herald,
the Sun, the Morning advertiser, and the DAILY
Netcs, had but one opinion. 1t was that /" the"
Lind was the greatest vocalist that had trodden
upon English shores since the time of Mahbran.
would 60 even further, but suppose that must
bow to the d,ctunt OF the majority. said that this
was the supposed opinion of the whole ofthe morn
ing press of London, with one solitary exception.
This was MIR. Grunisen, who discharged the duties
Of operate and musical critic for the Morning
Chronicle. He had from the first been so closely
linked with the seceders from her Majesty Theatre,
that he could not now abandon them in addition to
which, he was supposed to have apecuniary interest
in the success of the Covent Garden establishment.
Certain is, that he worked energetcally for this
theatre if he had AT the end of the season, ,how-
ever, such had been the injustice of his critical
structures upon Jenny Lind that Mr. Lumley for
mally demonstrated with Sir John Easthope who
was at this time proprietor ofthe paper. The re-
suit OF this remonstrance was, that Mr. Grunisen's
mouth was partially muZZled.
Meanwhile Jenny Lind had appe ared in Roberto IL
Didpolo several times, and the excitement respect
ing her was steadily upon the increase.
Jenny Lind topcoats were advertised, Jenny
Lind cravats were purchased, and Jenny Lind
boots were manufactured Ladies wore Jenny
Lind scarfs, and children appeared in Jenny Lind
polkas. Her name crept into the contectioner's
and cook shops Nay, potatoes with blue eyes
by any possibility, be offered in any branch of
the useful arts, but there Jenny Lind appeared
II crept into families, and invaded their bed rooms.
London literally raved about Jenny Lind: You
could not allude to her singing, without calling out
long list of superlatve adectives from your inter-
locutor. The popular enthusiasm, indeed, rose TO
an extreme which was little short of madness
Night after night, the house was filled 10 overflow
ing. Night after night, did the audience for pit and
gallery wait for hours before the DOORS in the hopes
Of securing front places. The boxes were sold at
more than double their usual prices, and MIR. Nit
chell, the librarian and lessee of the ST. James's
Theatre, who alone had supported Mr.. Lumley,
by taking double his usual share of boxes for the
season, when the other musc-selers and libra
rians had hung back from her Majesty's Theatre,
must have now felt that what had appeared gene
rosity was no more than an admirable and very
successful speculation.
Meyerbeer's opera had now run for some nine or
ten nights and the subscribers began, OF necessity,
TO cry out for its withdrawal. 1t not that they
came less regularly than formerly, but they were
inpatient for that novelty which the regular sup
porters of such an establishment as her Majesty's
Theatre almost invariably require.
The " Sonnambula" was accordingly announced.
On the night in question: not single box in the
theatre, save those which had this time been re-
served beforehand Tor the press, was untaken.
The character Of Amina had given Sontag the
opportunity of stamping her reputation II had also
been for many years Persiani's favorite character
With the memory Of these two great singers in this
part, had Jenny Lind's genius 10 struggle. need
scarcely tell you that II came out from the contest
a victor. Impersonated by the fair Swede, il was
destined TO create an excitement which had rarely
or perhaps never, since the time OF Catalan,
been paralleled upon the English stage. Scarcely
had the curtain fallen upon the first act. than she
summoned before IL, TO listen TO the reiterated
cheers of the audience. The last act of the opera
is, in my opinion, the most delicious OF Jenny
n .slH tl in
which the sonnambula appears at her chamber
window, and crosses the mill wheel on its narrow
bridge, 10 the one when, awaking, she recognises
her kneelng lover, and her voice rises IN the clear
notes Of its exquisite joy, as she hears and sees
the repentant love Of Euuis, all is so truthful aud
so ndiroiy rendered, that you might almost forget
you were looking on mimic rendering OF human
passion. 80 did the audience feel and never, pro-
badly, before, had their enthusiasm so uncontl OLA
bly, broken forth IL did upon this occasion. With
the performance of the character, the reputation OF
Jenny reached its apex. IL might have been sup
posed that IL would have declined, by those who
have not heard her. Wait until you hear her, and
you will no longer wonder that Il has not done
Jenny Lind's singing is, mechanically, the most
perfect which il would be possible for you 10 con-
ceive. Her voice is singularly pure and fresh.
though, IN some one or Two OF her lower notes, Il
is possibly rather thin. Her EoTiuri are conceived
by herself, and betray such an exquisite taste in
their conception, that even her teacher, Emanuel
Garcia, was in the habit of borrowing and appro-
Prating them TO his own use, while she was yet
his pupil and he declined 10 believe in her capa-
hiies to make and to hold her present position in
the concert room and on the stage. In addition TO
this, she hos rare quality-such is her musical
genius, that scarcely month passes in which she
does not vary them. Hence, her singing is pcrpe-
tually fresh and new, and this must most undoub-
edly be accepted as one Of the reasons which have
enabled her to preserve her reputation vocalist
unimpaifed, since her wonderful succe@ in her
first season in England. And yet scarcely know
whether ought to call IL wonderful. for she so
completely deserves il. both by her personal quail
ties woman and her Iue-eminence song
strcss, that IL ccnfcs 10 be n marvel. She - as
charming in her personal character az she is great
in her vocalsm; and feel sure that am not ex-
nggcrating her charities. when tell you that up
wards Of seventy thousand pounds have been
drawn by her unriyalled voice from The pockets OF
the wealthy and proud, into the Golfers of the va
rous charitable institutions 20 which she has given
her aid with such willing and ready soul This
alone would cndoar Jenny to England, were there
no oiher reason; but linked, as Il IL, with one Of
the purest and rncst spoiess Of private regulations,
II has earned her fame that will be Ear more last
ing than those OF the great yocalists who have
preceded her period in the struggle Tor reputation.
u viii indeed be as enduring that Of any singer
well can be. safss-