ONE of the most revered singers of the 19th century will be celebrated at this year’s Elgar Festival.
Jenny Lind – who was often called the ‘Swedish Nightingale’ – has a special place in the county’s history.
Born in Stockholm in 1820, Jenny’s fame and fortune led her to England and to her final resting place, Great Malvern Cemetery, following her death in 1887.
The Jenny Lind Singers – an all female choir named after their namesake – will perform on Sunday May 24 at a special concert at All Saints Church in Deansway, Worcester.
This virtuosic female voice choir, under the leadership of conductor Lynne Lindner, will present a programme celebrating the works of women composers past and present including Amy Bebbington, Joanna Forbes L’ Estrange, Elizabeth Poston, and Liz Dilnot Johnson.
The Jenny Lind Singers specialise in performing and promoting works by both female and local composers, as well as championing new music.
Kenneth Woods, artistic director of the Elgar Festival said: “Back by popular demand, this virtuosic female voice choir celebrates the legacy of soprano and friend of Edward Elgar, Jenny Lind, who lived in Malvern for the latter part of her life and was a well-known benefactor of education and the arts.
“Under the leadership of conductor Lynne Lindner, this group of talented local female singers present a programme celebrating the works of women composers past and present.”
The Jenny Lind Singers were founded in the 1970’s at Malvern Girls’ College by the Head of Music and Elaine Hugh-Jones and re-founded in 2013 by Lynne Lindner, then Director of Music at Malvern St James Girls’ School, at the invitation of the Malvern Civic Society.
They present several concerts a year, including Britten’s Ceremony of Carols at Christmas for which alumnae return to their hometown to celebrate their unique musical legacy.
The Singers are made up of Lara Bienkowska, Becky Moore, Rebecca Fisher, Vicky Henderson, Alison Houlbrooke, Saska Ingham, Catherine Jackson, Lynne Lindner, Catherine Shepherd, Anna Taylor and Philippa Wright.
On her retirement, Jenny Lind and her husband purchased a house in Malvern at Wynds Point and she lived there until her death in 1887.
This year’s festival will take place from May 23 until May 31 – the festival is an annual celebration of Elgar’s music spanning symphonic and string orchestra concerts by the resident English Symphony Orchestra, along with chamber concerts, choral concerts, recitals, workshops, masterclasses, street performances, a young composers competition, exhibits, tours and talks.
Visit www.elgarfestival.org for more information.
