stLouISTST. LOUIS, MO — In 1851, the Campbell House was newly built, St. Louis was flourishing, and audiences across America were captivated by the extraordinary voice of opera superstar Jenny Lind, the “Swedish Nightingale.”
One hundred seventy-five years later, Campbell House is celebrating the anniversary of its construction with A Nightingale Sang, an intimate concert that brings the music and atmosphere of 1851 back to the historic home.
Acclaimed dramatic soprano Angel Azzarra will perform two special concerts in the Campbell House parlor on Saturday, September 12, at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 13, at 4:00 p.m. Each performance will be limited to just 36 guests, offering a rare opportunity to experience the house as the Campbells themselves might have experienced it.
The program takes inspiration from one of the most memorable cultural events in St. Louis in 1851: Jenny Lind’s celebrated North American tour. The Campbells were among those who attended Lind’s historic St. Louis appearance as her tour came to an end.
Guests will hear selections associated with Lind’s famed tour alongside music connected to the Campbell family and their world. The performance will take place on the Campbells’ own 1855 square grand piano, providing an especially meaningful centerpiece for the anniversary celebration.
Robert and Virginia Campbell purchased the piano from Philadelphia manufacturer Schomacker and Co. in 1855. Robert Campbell’s receipt book records a payment of $475 to the company on November 28 of that year. Schomacker also produced a nearly identical piano for the Lincoln White House, creating a fascinating connection between the Campbell family’s instrument and another important piece of nineteenth-century American history.
For A Nightingale Sang, the piano will once again fill the Campbell House parlor with music, allowing guests to imagine an evening of entertainment in the home during its earliest years.
Celebrating 175 Years of the Campbell House
Built in 1851, the Campbell House stands as an extraordinary survivor of nineteenth-century St. Louis. Its 175th anniversary provides an opportunity not only to celebrate the preservation of the house, but also to revisit the people, music and culture that shaped life within its walls.
Rather than commemorating the anniversary solely by looking at the past, A Nightingale Sang invites guests to experience it.
With the historic rooms surrounding them, the Campbells’ piano beneath the performer’s hands and music connected to the world the family inhabited, audiences will have the chance to step beyond the museum ropes and into the rhythm of nineteenth-century life.
About Angel Azzarra
Listed by Operavore among “40 Under 40: A New Generation of Superb Opera Singers,” dramatic soprano Angel Azzarra is quickly gaining recognition for her powerful and versatile artistry. She has performed with organizations including Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Detroit Opera, Opera Festival of Chicago, Gulfshore Opera, St. Petersburg Opera and Opera Lafayette.
Her Kennedy Center debut as Melpomene in Les Fêtes de Thalie with Opera Lafayette was described by The Washington Post as “visually vibrant and vocally dazzling.” Azzarra is also an accomplished recitalist and advocate for opera and classical music education, reaching millions of viewers through her AngelOpera online platforms.
Event Details
A Nightingale Sang: Celebrating 175 Years of Campbell House
Campbell House Museum, St. Louis, Missouri
Saturday, September 12, 2026 — 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 13, 2026 — 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $100
Capacity: 36 guests per performance
Availability is limited.
For tickets and additional information, visit https://campbellhousemuseum.org/event/a-nightingale-sang-175-of-music-i…
Event Type: Exhibition
When: Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 07:00 PM
Location: Campbell House Museum
Neighborhood: Downtown
Ward: Many Wards
Admission: Charge. Saturday, September 12, 2026 — 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 13, 2026 — 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $100
Capacity: 36 guests per performance
Availability is limited.
Contact: 314-421-0325
campbellhousemuseum@gmail.com
https://campbellhousemuseum.org/event/a-nightingale-sang-175-of-music-i…
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