‘Swedish Nightingale’ returning to this year’s Elgar Festival

One of the most revered singers of the 19^th 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 24 May at a special concert at All Saints Church in Deansway, Worcester; tickets cost £12 each.

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.

Ken concluded: “During her lifetime no performer was more revered than the Swedish soprano, Jenny Lind.”

Set in the composer’s hometown and surrounding areas over the week closest to Elgar’s birthday on 2^nd June – this year’s festival will take place from Saturday 23 May until Sunday 31 May – 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.

Since its inauguration in 2018, when it was a Critic’s Pick in both The Guardian and The Times, the festival has doubled in size and scale and continues to grow annually through an innovative development programme of appealing and accessible events, working with hundreds of both internationally renowned professional artists and amateur musicians and performers of all ages to ensure Elgar really is for everyone.

The music of the festival’s namesake will be the centrepiece of a busy programme of 27 events across 15 different venues with 3 pre-festival events including the relaxed concerts. The full breadth of Elgar’s work will be showcased, including songs, miniatures, chamber music and choral anthems alongside his most beloved orchestral masterpieces.

This year’s festival will bring together world-class professional musicians and artists alongside local choirs and ensembles placing the music of Worcester’s most famous son alongside that of his contemporaries and some of today’s leading composers and arrangers.

For further information and to book tickets please visit www.elgarfestival.org