Florence Foster Jenkins

People may say I can’t sing. But no one can ever say I didn’t sing.

Despite having no pitch, no rhythm and no tone, Florence Foster Jenkins became one of America’s best-known sopranos, giving a sell-out concert at Carnegie Hall. Florence Foster adored music and as a girl was a talented pianist, but her wealthy father refused to allow her to study in Europe. In retaliation she eloped with Dr Frank Jenkins but the marriage soon foundered, not least because the eighteen-year-old bride contracted syphilis on their wedding night. After her father’s death, she inherited a considerable sum and it was then that she vowed to become a great soprano. Over forty years later, after a lifetime supporting New York’s classical musical societies – and even founding her own – Florence’s greatest dream was finally realised.

Her extraordinary story is now a film, starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant, and directed by Stephen Frears.