THE SWEDISH PRIMA DONNA.
Cobleatz, 8th Septanber 184b.
Pornmersfelden—did you over hear of Pommersfelden ? I am sure you maser did; nor has anybody else in England heard of it, I trow: yet such a place exists, and is well worth talking about ; wherefore I bad intended to send you a. short account of this really fine German palace, and the treasures of art contained within its spacious wills. But I can talk but of one subject now, for—I have seen JENNY LBW !
This young singer's rare and valuable gifts have rendered her for some manila past the idol of all North Germany; so that her dawning reputatiou had excited my attention before I left England: when, therefore, I learned from the German papers that she had been induced to make the journey to the Rhine at the King of Prussia's request, I was extremely anxious to profit by the opportunity to caMh a sight of the "Swedish nightingale," as the is called. Judgethenif 1 wasgra- tified to hear, on arriving at Frankfort last week, that Jenny Lind would abagrn La Soma/du/a the next evening. With infinite difficulty I succeeded in pm- curing. a ticket, through a friend residing in the town of Frankfort; and at half- past six o'clock found the whole theatre occupied; upwards of two hundred pin.- sons standing throughout the evening over and above those fortunate enough to find seats.
The " company," as well as the orchestra, was far from good; indeed I have not often seen a ' star so feebly supported. Jenny, however, rose superior to those disadvantages; whilst the audience seemed to forget that any other silver was to be judged, or even listened to; all but she were puppets, and mere acces- sories to her perfirmance. The most tumultuous applause attended it from first to last; and the final air was " blase " after the curtain had fallen, notwithstand- ing the opposition of some considerate parties, who felt that the young actress must needs be fatigued with her exertions. And now shall I tell you my vial= of Jenny Lind's talents? To a delicious fresh soprano voice, of equal quality and wide range, naturally delivered from the chest, he adds a knowledge of her art such as reveals 'the most assiduous culture under the best instruction. A mistress of ornamental embellishment, she appears to possess so nice a discrimination in the ruse of it as to adapt her manner to the oeeesion in a way which satisfies the hearer that shehas both intelligence and feeling. She plays with the scale like a flutist, where bril- liant execution is fitting and proper; whilst, if tenderness or sad emotion is tote rendered, a touching simplicity of style carries home to the hearts of her auditory the conviction that they are listening to a child of genius. Having said thus much, I leave it to step-watch critics" to dilate upon the details of Jenny Lind's performance; only adding, that she has achieved that very rare accom- plishment a perfect shake,—a shake which (although 1 deprecate comparisons) may fairly be said to excel that of any singer now to be heard in England. The only quality in which she may be considered to fall short of completeness, as
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a first.rate singer, is power and volume; though, as the Frankfort theatre :is confessedly unfavourable to singers, I say this without a very decided conviction on the matter. Waiving this point, however, for the present, I feel warranted lin classing Mademoiselle Jenny Lind among the most accomplished artists of our time. Her person is well-formed, of slender proportions, about the middle height; fair hair, well-shaped mouth, and soft eyes: but you cannot term her handsome Her play is good, and expressive; her "poses" suitable, and her action varied-- perhaps a shade too quiet for the London stage. Coming down the Rhine nothing is talked of, whether in railroad or steamers, at tables ante or in hotels, but Jenny Lind: and I must say that a more unanimous tone of eulobg'I have never heard used concerning a public singer. Stories about her are freely circu- lated all probably equally well-founded: they correspond, however, in one unques- tionable particular—namely, in ascribing to the young Swede an unspotted private character and an amiable disposition. The Berlin Opera has secured Jennr's:aor- vices for the approaching winter, and that of Vienna will possess her during the spring; so that it is not likely that the fair songstress will be subjected to the dread-ordeal of the stall-holders at Her Majesty's Theatre in London next season, even should its enterprising manager seek to enrol her among his bright met! stellation.
Of Pommemfelden I will discourse to you at an early season. IL e.
[London, however, it seems, has still some claim upon the fair
anti she is likely to prove among the potentates of the drama a .perfect except that there is no stain on her virtue, and that Paris is not the pretender to her favour. In the Herald of this morning we find the following letter; but we have no maim of judging as to the soundness of the writer's claim. At all events, we could wish the young lady brought here in a more agreeable way: one Apes not like to coerce nightingales, or invoke the muse with a duces teem.]
" TO THE ZDITOB. Or TELE MORNiNG HTILLD.
"Brighton, September 12.
" Sts—My attention having been directed to an article in your paper of Monday last, in which it is asked how I come to suffer Mademoiselle Lind to remain in Prussia, `after having sealed and signed with her ?' S beg to state, that the engagement signed by that lady with me, on the 10th of last January, in the presence of her Majesty's Minister at Berlin, the Right Honourable the Earl of Westmoreland, and effected by M. Meyerbeer, the eminent composer of She Campo:0 Bilmia, for the purpose of pro- ducing that opera at Drury Lane Theatre, gave her the option of fulfilling itatthar in the month of May or of October : and, while I am aware she has been tampered with to prevent hertlebat on the linglish stage. 1 will, to the unman of may power, compel her to appear there. " I have the honour AD be. Elc,ffoar obliged and Obedient servant, A. limn,.
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