Felix Delbruck:

>A friend of ours recently sent us a tape of Florence Foster-Jenkins (the
>squally soprano) from overseas. It comes with very tongue-in-cheek liner
>notes. Did this woman really exist as F F-J, or is she a comic's persona?

She existed, and how!  She was also convinced she was a great singer.  She
was absolutely sincere, and spent a great deal of time on interpretation
and presentation.  Her concert costumes alone give one pause.  As you can
imagine, her New York concerts were sold out.  The trick of the audience
was to get through without laughing during a number, and then to cheer
wildly to cover the laughter.  Apparently, she loved music but was
forbidden, first by her parents, then by her husband to pursue a career.
When her wealthy husband died, she pursued and pursued it.

The ringer, however, is her pianist, "Cosme McMoon," a name to hide behind.

Steve Schwartz