Judging from newspaper coverage, the April 1851 concert in Pittsburgh by Jenny Lind -- the "Swedish Nightingale" -- surpassed performances by the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and even Hannah Montana.

Or it may just be that Mick, Bruce and Miley all lacked the advantage of having Lind's promoter: P.T. Barnum.

"The contagion of the Nightingale fever, it appears, has reached our city, and fears being entertained of her not honoring us with a visit, some of our citizens are departing for Cincinnati, in order to hear this famous enchantress," The Morning Post reported on April 18, 1851.

Those worries evaporated three days later when the Post announced that the Swedish-born singer would perform April 25 in the city's new Masonic Hall. She was supposed to return east after her Cincinnati performance, but "at the earnest solicitation of some of our citizens, Mr. [Barnum] ... has agreed that Miss Lind shall sing here at least one night." About 1,500 tickets would be sold, through an auction, at what The Daily Pittsburgh Gazette estimated was an average price of $7.50 -- about $194 in today's money.

"The excitement relative to the arrival of Jenny Lind in our city is already becoming very contagious," the Post reported April 22. "The people from the surrounding country -- Washington, Greensburgh, and other towns in the vicinity -- are flocking in, determined if possible to get a seat under the sound of her voice."

Other businesses advertised wares that week designed to take advantage of Lind-o-mania. New sheet music available at O. Blume's Piano Depot, 118 Wood St., included "Jenny Lind's celebrated 'Bird Song,' arranged for the guitar."

"Memorial Hall, to-night, will be a scene of beauty and gaiety, such as has never before been witnessed in Pittsburgh," the Post said on the morning of the concert. "The reputation of JENNY LIND is as extensive as the universe itself, and our citizens, who have heard so much about her angelic notes and heavenly charity, will now have an opportunity to see and hear for themselves this gifted daughter of Sweden."

The anonymous writer for The Morning Post was not disappointed. "All our preconceived opinions of the extraordinary vocal powers of Miss Lind, were more than confirmed," the newspaper reported on April 26. "She sang only as the angels sing in the courts of Paradise. Her voice is sweet as the warbling of birds. Although she can set up no great claims to beauty, yet there is something uncommonly pleasing in her countenance, that never tires the beholder."

As well received as her concert was, Pittsburgh had to brace itself for disappointment. Jenny Lind was unable to give a second performance.

"The public are most respectfully informed that the noise and confusion occasioned by the immense crowd outside the Masonic Hall last night, so completely unnerved M'lle Jenny Lind, that all entreaties and assurances from his honor, the Mayor, and myself, were unavailing to induce her to give another Concert," P.T. Barnum wrote in the April 28 edition of the Post.

"She would have been pleased to do so, had not the tumult on the roofs of the buildings adjacent to her retiring room ... thrown her into a state of excitement which she could not control, and which must render it impossible for her to sing until a few days' seclusion will have restored her to tranquility," he explained.

The Post estimated the crowd outside the theater to have been between 7,000 and 8,000 people. "There was not the least intention to alarm or annoy M'lle Lind, but so much 'noise and confusion' in the vicinity of the dressing room was enough to produce unpleasant emotions in the bosom of any lady," The Post reported.

"The greatest noise that was produced was in consequence of some reckless hack and omnibus drivers attempting to force their vehicles through the dense mass of human beings assembled on Fifth street," the story continued.

The writer concluded that not much could have been done about the large, but friendly crowd. "It is idle to suppose that people would seclude themselves at home when the greatest singer the world ever produced was charming the hearts of our citizens by the sweetness of her angelic notes."