A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Ney, Jenny
NEY, JENNY.
Mademoiselle Jenny Ney is a native of Presburgh, in Hungary, and was educated with great care for the stage by her mother, an artiste of considerable reputation, as was also her elder daughter, whom it was Jenny's great desire to emulate. She made her debut when a mere child, and soon obtained a favourable engagement at the Imperial Opera at Vienna, where she remained three years, that is, from 1851 to 1853, becoming every day a greater favourite with the public. The death of her mother at this period induced her to leave the Austrian capital, where she felt lonely and unhappy, being constantly reminded of her loss. Her fame having spread through Germany, numerous engagements offered, and she decided on Dresden, from whence she made excursions to Hamburg, Frankfort, Cologne, and other cities. In 1856, she made her appearance in the "Travatori," at the Royal Italian Opera House, London, with decided success, but the performance was interrupted for a time by her severe and dangerous illness, from which, however, she sufficiently recovered to enable her to resume before the close of the season, when her engagement called her back again to Dresden, where she is still performing. Previous to her appearance in London she was honoured with the title of Kammer-sangerum (chamber singer) to the court of Saxony.