Jenny Lind was very supportive of Sullivan early in his career: when he mounted a 'grand orchestral concert' to promote his work at St. James' Hall on 11 July 1866, Jenny Lind gave her support to the young Sullivan by appearing at the concert and singing this song.

Sullivan thought Jenny Lind was the greatest singer he had ever heard. He later recalled:

Her voice, which, as an organ, has never been equalled and surpassed, had an individual quality about it totally unlike anything else I have ever heard. She sang with a spirituality which moved one strangely. Her vocalisation, phrasing, and interpretation were absolutely perfect, but her power over one was due to an indefinable something in her beautiful voice which called forth the high tribute of deep emotion and real tears of sympathy. She was a rare woman and a great artist. I remember one occasion when she was quite an old woman, she came to visit me. It chanced that in the course of conversation I ran my fingers over the keys of the pianoforte, laying a little song of Mendelssohn, and I assure you that the sound of her voice had the same magical effect upon me - the tears came to one's eyes - so deep and true was the rare spirituality of her temperament.