Florence Foster Jenkins: The Complete Recordings

Release Date: 4th Mar 2016
Catalogue No: ACMCD4388
Label: Acrobat

Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days

McMoon: Like a bird

Florence Foster Jenkins (soprano)

McMoon: Valse Caressante

Florence Foster Jenkins (soprano)

Liadov: A Musical Snuffbox, Op. 32

Florence Foster Jenkins (soprano)

Mozart: Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen (from Die Zauberflöte)

Florence Foster Jenkins (soprano)

Delibes: Où va la jeune Indoue? 'Bell Song' (from Lakmé)

Florence Foster Jenkins (soprano)

David, Félicien: Charmant oiseau (from La Perle du Brésil)

Florence Foster Jenkins (soprano)

Strauss, J, II: Mein Herr Marquis (from Die Fledermaus)

Florence Foster Jenkins (soprano)

Ponce, M: Serenata mexicana ‘Alevántate’

Florence Foster Jenkins (soprano)

Budashkin: Biassy (after Bach's Prelude XVI)

Florence Foster Jenkins (soprano)

About
Explore

About

Florence Foster Jenkins was a New York socialite who, despite being a hopelessly incompetent singer, believed herself to be an operatic soprano of note, and performed for invited audiences at recitals for thirty years or more until her death in 1944, just weeks after her only public performance at Carnegie Hall, which attracted an incredulous response. She was unable to pitch a note accurately or hold a tune, nor did she have any sense of rhythm or timing, and this collection of the private recordings she made in the early 1940s admirably portray her singular lack of talent. She acquired a cult legendary status over the years, to the extent that in 2016 a high profile feature film biopic is being released, starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant, which will prompt a new surge of interest in her recordings. This release contains all the pieces she consigned to disc, comprising coloratura arias from well-known operas along with contemporary art songs, two written by her regular piano accompanist Cosme McMoon. It is simultaneously astonishing and hilarious, and for once the description of unique is amply justified.

Florence Foster Jenkins: The Complete Recordings

CD

Contents

Download queue