One of the more frequent questions I get in interviews concerns who "Elvira Madigan" is/was. The name Elvira Madigan that is synonymous with this musical project is adopted from a woman whose life and death has captivated many throughout history. I have included a short presentation below in order to tell you who she was. My musical entity Elvira Madigan has no real connection to her life or persona but was chosen due to the fact that it works internationally, doesn't mean anything and does not refer to a certain genre of music.

The story of the tight-rope-dancer Elvira Madigan (or "Hedvig Antionette Isabella Eleonora Jensen" as her real name was), who performed at her stepfather John Adalbert Madigans Circus is indeed very sad yet captivating one. It was initially sung of in "Sorgeliga saker hända" (Sad things happen), composed by J. Lindström. "Mademoiselle Elvira" (daughter of Eleonora (Laura) Olsen and Friedrich Jensen), fell in love with the married lieutenant Sixten Sparre. Sparre was of much higher social rank, so their controversial affair led to them being outcasts in their community, thus leading them to escape together 1889 to Denmark (from Sweden) where they lived in a small Hotel. Being a lieutenant and fleeing the country ultimatly meant deserting from the army and of course; punishment for that in those days were rather harsh. Eventually after running out of funds they faced the only option of returning back to Sweden. However, this would mean his incarceration so instead of being separated they chose - while away on a picnic - to commit suicide rather than to return home. Sixten Sparre shot his Elvira Madigan and then took his own life. To the most famous works inspired by Elvira Madigans life can be mentioned a highly acclaimed film (made 1966) by Bo Widerberg which has led to a pianoconcert (nr 21) by composer "Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart" to be named after her on the account of it being used in the film. A link featuring actual former property of "Elvira Madigan" on display at a local museum in Denmark is available from the Links-page.