In psychology, there is the term "Dunning-Krueger effect" - this is the state of a person who, with low abilities, considers himself talented and even brilliant. This quality was characteristic of Florence Foster Jenkins - an American pianist and singer, who, nevertheless, left a noticeable mark on art.
Biography
The future prima donna was born in 1868 in New York. Parents were able to pay for any whims of their daughter and sought to educate her in the spirit of art. At the age of eight, Florence was sent to study music - she began to play the piano. This work captivated the girl so much that she decided to devote all herself to music.
After graduation, Florence wanted to go to Europe to continue her vocals, but her father refused to pay for school. The girl was not going to give up her dream, and fled with her lover - Frank Thornton Jenkins. In Europe, she gave piano lessons, these incomes and lived. And although all relatives and friends had a negative attitude towards her idea of becoming an opera singer, she constantly made efforts to do this.
When Florence was already under forty, her father died, leaving her daughter a good inheritance, and now she could realize her dream. The future diva began taking lessons from the most famous opera singers. By that time, she lived in Philadelphia, actively participated in the city’s musical life, and even founded the Verdi club, where she invited classics lovers.
First creative setbacks
Jenkins first solo concert took place in 1912, and since then quite often she began to perform at various venues. Her annual concert at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel was a must, and she soon became famous in New York.
Spectators of her concerts noted that when she began to sing, "nothing could stop her, " "she imagined herself a great singer." She was called unique due to the fact that her voice did not match the level to which Jenkins claimed. She did not have a musical ear, a sense of rhythm and voice power. And even the accompanist sometimes could not restrain laughter during her performance. The audience laughed as well, but Florence did not pay attention to it.
In 1937, Jenkins recorded her first disc, and all this was also done in an original manner: no settings, no rehearsals. The disc was recorded the first time, and the singer called it "magnificent." Records were also recorded from him.
For a very long time, Jenkins did not agree to perform at Carnegie Hall, although this scene is considered the most prestigious in New York. And finally, on October 25, 1944, this performance was scheduled. The audience was in a hurry to buy tickets, the excitement was unprecedented, ticket prices grew every day.
Florence was then 76 years old, but she was in great shape. The audience during the concert met her as always - with laughter and ridicule. The singer did not show that she was upset, but a month after this event she died. The reason could well be disappointment after the concert.
