2-889-576 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Castle Garden, New York, 1850. The "Lind mania" continues to rage...Enthusiasm the most unbounded prevailed in New York on the evening of [Swedish singer] Jenny Lind's first concert at Castle Garden. Full six thousand persons assembled on the interesting occasion in the large saloon, and the applause on the entrance of the Swedish Nightingale was so tremendous and overwhelming, that for some minutes her feelings overcame her, and emotion was evident in the singing of her first piece, "Casta Diva". As the concert progressed, Jenny recovered her full powers, and never were her vocal sweetness, expression, and pathos more triumphantly developed. The concert concluded by her singing the prize song for which Mr. Barnum had offered a premium of 200 dollars'. From "Illustrated London News", 1850.