Comic Musicians: Florence Foster Jenkins

The muse surmounted [sound recording] : Florence Foster Jenkins and eleven of her rivals Carmen potpourri / Bizet -- Fado celestial -- Reigen / Weber -- Artaserce [sic]: Va tra la selve / Graun -- Margita: Canzonetta / Meyer-Helmud [sic] -- Manon: Je marche / Massenet -- Samson and Dalila: Bacchanale / Saint-Saëns -- Il trovatore: Miserere ; Aida: Tomb scene ; Aida: act four excerpt / Verdi -- Tosca (abridged) / Puccini -- The barber of Seville: Una voce poco fa / Rossini -- La traviata: Ah fors e lui. Sempre libera / Verdi -- Darling Nellie Gray / Hanby -- Valse caressante / McMoon -- Reminiscence of Florence Foster Jenkins / Cosme McMoon.

The Glory (????) of the human voice [sound recording] Die Zauberflöte, Der Hölle Rache = Queen of the night aria / Mozart (3:37) -- The musical snuff-box / Liadoff (2:25) -- Like a bird / McMoon (1:19) -- Lakmé. Où va la jeune Hindoue? Bell song / Delibes (4:39) -- Serenata mexicano / McMoon (2:10) -- La perle du Brésil. Charmant oiseau / David (6:02) -- Biassy / Bach ; Pavlovich (3:35) -- Die Fledermaus. Adele's laughing song / Johann Strauss, Jr. (3:49) -- A Faust travesty. Valentine's aria (3:15) ; Jewel song (6:00) ; Salut, demeure (4:45) ; Final trio (10:40) / Gounod.

Glorious by Peter Quilter Hilarious comedy of the worst singer in the world In 1940's New York, the performer who everyone wanted to see live was Florence Foster Jenkins, an enthusiastic soprano whose pitch was far from perfect. Known as 'the first lady of the sliding scale', she warbled and screeched her way through the evening to an audience who mostly fell about with laughter. But this delusional and joyously happy woman paid little attention to her critics, instead she was surrounded by a circle of devoted friends who were almost as eccentric as she was. Based upon a true story, the play spins from Florence's charity recitals and extravagent balls, through to her bizarre recording sessions and an ultimate triumph at Carnegie Hall in this hilarious and heart-warming comedy. Glorious! is published to tie-in with the premiere at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, starring Maureen Lipman. 'Never less than riveting' Scotsman 'Comically sublime' Guardian 'Delightful and often blissfully funny ? This is a cult hit if ever I saw one' Daily Telegraph 'Lunatically funny comedy ? Maureen Lipman gives a virtuoso performance, glittering, hilarious and technically breathtaking' Sunday Times

Florence Foster Jenkins by Darryl W. Bullock "Probably the most complete and absolute lack of talent ever publicly displayed." -Life Magazine Madame Jenkins couldn't carry a tune in a bucket: despite that, in 1944 at the age of 76, she played Carnegie Hall to a capacity audience and had celebrity fans by the score. Her infamous 1940s recordings are still highly-prized today. In his well-researched and thoroughly entertaining biography, Darryl W. Bullock tells of Florence Foster Jenkins meteoric rise to success and the man who stood beside her, through every sharp note.  Florence was ridiculed for her poor control of timing, pitch, and tone, and terrible pronunciation of foreign lyrics, but the sheer entertainment value of her caterwauling packed out theatres around the United States, with the 'singer' firmly convinced of her own talent, partly thanks to the devoted attention for her husband and manager St Clair Bayfield. Her story is one of triumph in the face of adversity, courage, conviction and of the belief that with dedication and commitment a true artist can achieve anything.

Florence Foster Jenkins by Nicholas Martin; Jasper Rees She was a woman with a dream. Nobody believed in her talent. But nothing could stop her. . . This is the true story of FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS Now the basis of a major motion picture starring Academy Award--winning actress Meryl Streep She had no pitch, no rhythm, and no tone. Still, Florence Foster Jenkins (Streep) became one of America’s best-known sopranos. Born in 1868, Florence was a talented young pianist whose wealthy father refused to let her continue her musical studies in Europe. In retaliation, Florence eloped with Dr. Frank Jenkins, a man twice her age, and moved to New York. But when her father died and left her a large sum of money, Florence finally had a chance to pursue her one true passion: Singing. Butfirst she would have to learn how to become a great singer. Years of lessons and a chance meeting with St. Clair Bayfield (Hugh Grant), who would become her manager and common-law husband, would help launch Florence’s career and entry into New York’s prestigious classical musical societies, culminating in her giving a recital, at the age of seventy-six, at Carnegie Hall. This is story of a woman who was not afraid to recreate herself into the person she wished to become—and achieve her own version of the American Dream.

Florence Foster Jenkins A New York socialite dreams of becoming a great opera singer. While the voice she hears in her head is beautiful, to everyone else it is hilariously awful. Her husband and biggest fan, St. Clair Bayfield is determined to protect his beloved Florence from the truth. But when Florence stages a huge concert at Carnegie Hall, he faces his greatest challenge to make sure her performance is a rousing success.