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Florence Foster Jenkins

Florence Foster Jenkins

Florence Foster Jenkins has been played on NTS in shows including The Opera Show, featured first on 1 November 2016. Songs played include Biassy, Queen Of The Night Aria and Adele's Laughing Song.

Florence Foster Jenkins (1868–26 November 1944) was an American soprano who became famous for her complete lack of singing ability.

From her recordings, it is apparent that Jenkins had little sense of pitch and rhythm and was barely capable of sustaining a note. Her accompanist can be heard making adjustments to compensate for her tempo variations and rhythmic mistakes. Nonetheless, she became tremendously popular in her unconventional way. Her audiences apparently loved her for the amusement she provided rather than her musical ability. Critics often described her work in a backhanded way that may have served to pique public curiosity.

Despite her patent lack of ability, Jenkins was firmly convinced of her greatness. She compared herself favourably to the renowned sopranos Frieda Hempel and Luisa Tetrazzini, and dismissed the laughter which often came from the audience during her performances as coming from her rivals consumed by "professional jealousy." She was aware of her critics, however, saying "People may say I can't sing, but no one can ever say I didn't sing."

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Florence Foster Jenkins

Florence Foster Jenkins has been played on NTS in shows including The Opera Show, featured first on 1 November 2016. Songs played include Biassy, Queen Of The Night Aria and Adele's Laughing Song.

Florence Foster Jenkins (1868–26 November 1944) was an American soprano who became famous for her complete lack of singing ability.

From her recordings, it is apparent that Jenkins had little sense of pitch and rhythm and was barely capable of sustaining a note. Her accompanist can be heard making adjustments to compensate for her tempo variations and rhythmic mistakes. Nonetheless, she became tremendously popular in her unconventional way. Her audiences apparently loved her for the amusement she provided rather than her musical ability. Critics often described her work in a backhanded way that may have served to pique public curiosity.

Despite her patent lack of ability, Jenkins was firmly convinced of her greatness. She compared herself favourably to the renowned sopranos Frieda Hempel and Luisa Tetrazzini, and dismissed the laughter which often came from the audience during her performances as coming from her rivals consumed by "professional jealousy." She was aware of her critics, however, saying "People may say I can't sing, but no one can ever say I didn't sing."

Original source: Last.fm

Tracks featured on

Most played tracks

Biassy
Florence Foster Jenkins
RCA Victor Red Seal1954
Queen Of The Night Aria
Florence Foster Jenkins
Naxos Nostalgia2003
Adele's Laughing Song
Florence Foster Jenkins
RCA Victor Red Seal1962