Jennie van Zandt by Gurney (1)

Jenny van Zandt (1832-?); American soprano. Born as Jenny Blitz ,but after her marriage with James Rose van Zandt she performed under the name Van Zandt. She started her career as a concert and church singer in her American native town. In 1864 she made her stage debut at the Academy of Music in New York as Gilda in Verdi’s “Rigoletto”. In 1865 she went to Europe where she performed with the Carl Rosa Opera Company (1868-1871) and also at Covent Garden in the Italian season. In 1867 she made guest appearances in Italy, where she performed under the name of Madam Vanzini. At the “La Scala” in Milan she sang the role of Oscar in Verdi’s “Un ballo in maschera” and the role of Mathilde in Rossini’s “William Tell”. In 1871 she appeared again in New York at the Academy of Music. Soon afterwards she retired from the stage and continued as a singing teacher. Her most famous pupil was her daughter soprano Marie van Zandt (1858-1919).