Felix Mendelssohn's Autograph Letter to Jenny Lind

Mendelssohn's signed autograph letter to Jenny Lind, the Swedish Nightingale.

In his letter to Jenny Lind, Mendelssohn introduces two acquaintances, who are coming to Weimar to hear the singer. One of them was Friedrich Wieck, Clara Schumann's father, the other is a certain Mr. Böhm, a singing teacher from Leipzig. They both desired to attend a rehearsal as well as a concert, and through Mendelssohn, they believe that a word from Lind would achieve this.

Mendelssohn also mentions how saddened he became when he learned that Lind had been in Leipzig in his absence. The composer hopes that because of Lind's prolonged sojourn in Weimar she could spend some extra time in Leipzig, "which would be the most delightful thing [...] that you could do for us".

This letter is not among those fourteen which were published in Lind's Memoir (Memoir of Jenny Lind-Goldschmidt. London; New York, 1891).

Jenny Lind and Felix Mendelssohn met first in October 1844, and until the composer's early death they encountered and worked together many times. Mendelssohn even started an opera, Lorelei, for Lind, which remained unfinished and he also claimed that the aria "Hear Ye Israel" in the oratorio Elijah was tailored to Lind's voice, although she did not sing this part until after his death.

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) was a German composer and musician of the early Romantic era, considered as one of the greatest composing prodigies in the history of Western classical music.

The Swedish soprano Jenny Lind (1820-1887) was among the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century. She acquired fame and success at an early age, and throughout her entire career, she was admired by the most outstanding composers, like Hector Berlioz, Robert Schumann and most importantly Felix Mendelssohn.

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