Florence Foster Jenkins Sings “Adele’s Laughing Song.“ Die Fledermaus

Florence Foster Jenkins (1868-1944) is commonly considered the worst singer who ever lived. I imagine, however, that some of us might have other candidates in mind for that particular honor. She used her considerable family money to concertize, starting in 1912. She sang in and around Philadelphia and New York, and even founded a “Verdi Club.“ Oddly, she seemed convinced of her greatness (plus ça change.....). Because it was such a spectacle to hear her “sing,“ she actually became quite popular in her day. She made a joke of her critics, and said they were just jealous. She is quoted as having said “People say I can’t sing, but they can’t say I didn’t sing!“ Now there’s a living definition of Chutzpah. She gave her final recital in Carnegie Hall in October, 1944, and apparently all tickets sold out weeks in advance!