Guest
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!
