Great Singers, Second Series | Page 2

of Grisi's Singing and
Acting.--Anecdotes of the Prima Donna.--Marriage of Mlle. Grisi.--Her
Connection with Other Distinguished Singers.--Kubini, his Character
as an Artist, and Incidents of his Life.--Tamburini, another Member of
the First Great "Puritani" Quartet.--Lablache, the King of Operatic
Bassos.--His Career as an Artist.--His Wonderful Genius as Singer and
Actor.--Advent of Mario on the Stage.--His Intimate Association with
Mme. Grisi as Woman and Artist.--Incidents of Mario's Life and
Character as an Artist.--Grisi's Long Hold on the Stage for more than a
Quarter-century.--Her American Tour.--Final Retirement from her
Profession.--The Elements of her Greatness as a Goddess of Song
PAULINE VIARDOT.
Vicissitudes of the Garcia Family.--Pauline Viardot's Early
Training.--Indications of her Musical Genius.--She becomes a Pupil of

Liszt on the Piano.--Pauline Garcia practically self-trained as a
Vocalist.--Her Remarkable Accomplishments.--Her First Appearance
before the Public with De Bériot in Concert.--She makes her _Début_
in London as Desdemona.--Contemporary Opinions of her
Powers.--Description of Pauline Garcia's Voice and the Character of
her Art.--The Originality of her Genius.--Pauline Garcia marries M.
Viardot, a Well-known Litterateur.--A Tour through Southern
Europe.--She creates a Distinct Place for herself in the Musical
Art.--Great Enthusiasm in Germany over her Singing.--The Richness of
her Art Resources.--Sketches of the Tenors, Nourrit and Duprez, and of
the Great Barytone, Ronconi.--Mme. Viardot and the Music of
Meyerbeer.--Her Creation of the Part of Fides in "Le Prophète," the
Crowning Work of a Great Career.--Retirement from the Stage.--High
Position in Private Life.--Connection with the French Conservatoire
FANNY PERSIANI.
The Tenor Singer Tacchinardi.--An Exquisite Voice and Deformed
Physique.--Early Talent shown by his Daughter Fanny.--His Aversion
to her entering on the Stage Life.--Her Marriage to M. Persiani.--The
Incident which launched Fanny Persiani on the Stage.--Rapid Success
as a Singer.--Donizetti writes one of his Great Operas for
her.--Personnel, Voice, and Artistic Style of Mme. Persiani.--One of
the Greatest Executants who ever lived.--Anecdotes of her Italian
Tours.--First Appearance in Paris and London.--A Tour through
Belgium with Ru-bini.--Anecdote of Prince Metternich.--Further
Studies of Persiani's Characteristics as a Singer.--Donizetti composes
Another Opera for her.--Her Prosperous Career and retirement from the
Stage.--Last Appearance in Paris for Mario's Benefit
MARIETTA ALBONI.
The Greatest of Contraltos.--Marietta Alboni's Early
Surroundings.--Rossini's Interest in her Career.--First Appearance on
the Operatic Stage.--Excitement produced in Germany by her
Singing.--Her Independence of Character.--Her Great Success in
London.--Description of her Voice and Person.--Concerts in
Paris.--The Verdicts of the Great French Critics.--Hector Berlioz on

Alboni's Singing.--She appears in Opera in Paris.--Strange Indifference
of the Audience quickly turned to Enthusiasm.--She competes
favorably in London with Grisi, Persiani, and Viardot.--Takes the Place
of Jenny Lind as Prima Donna at Her Majesty's.--She extends her
Voice into the Soprano Register.--Performs "Fides" in "Le
Prophète."--Visit to America.--Retires from the Stage
JENNY LIND.
The Childhood of the "Swedish Nightingale."--Her First Musical
Instruction.--The Loss and Return of her Voice.--Jenny Lind's Pupilage
in Paris under Manuel Garcia.--She makes the Acquaintance of
Meyerbeer.--Great Sue-cess in Stockholm in "Robert le
Diable."--Fredrika Bremer and Hans Christian Andersen on the Young
Singer.--Her _Début_ in Berlin.--Becomes Prima Donna at the Royal
Theatre.--Beginning of the Lind Enthusiasm that overran Europe.--She
appears in Dresden in Meyerbeer's New Opera, "Feldlager in
Schliesen."--Offers throng in from all the Leading Theatres of
Europe.--The Grand Furore in Every Part of Germany.--Description of
Scenes in her Musical Progresses.--She makes her _Début_ in
London.--Extraordinary Excitement of the English Public, such as had
never before been known.--Descriptions of her Singing by
Contemporary Critics.--Her Quality as an Actress.--Jenny Lind's
Personnel.--Scenes and Incidents of the "Lind" Mania.--Her Second
London Season.--Her Place and Character as a Lyric Artist.--Mlle.
Lind's American Tour.--Extraordinary Enthusiasm in America.--Her
Lavish Generosity.--She marries Herr Otto Goldschmidt.--Present Life
of Retirement in London.--Jenny Lind as a Public Benefactor
SOPHIE CRUVELLI.
The Daughter of an Obscure German Pastor.--She studies Music in
Paris.--Failure of her Voice.--Makes her _Début_ at La Fenice.--She
appears in London during the Lind Excitement.--Description of her
Voice and Person.--A Great Excitement over her Second Appearance in
Italy.--_Début_ in Paris.--Her Grand Impersonation in
"Fidelio."--Critical Estimates of her Genius.--Sophie Cruvelli's
Eccentricities.--Excitement in Paris over her Valentine in "Les

Huguenots."--Different Performances in London and Paris.--She retires
from the Stage and marries Baron Vigier.--Her Professional
Status.--One of the Most Gifted Women of any Age
THERESA TITIENS.
Born at Hamburg of an Hungarian Family.--Her Early Musical
Training.--First Appearance in Opera in "Lucrezia Borgia."--Romance
of her Youth.--Rapid Extension of her Fame.--Receives a _Congé_
from Vienna to sing in England.--Description of Mlle. Titiens, her
Voice, and Artistic Style.--The Characters in which she was specially
eminent.--Opinions of the Critics.--Her Relative Standing in the
Operatic Profession.--Her Performances of _Semi-ramide_ and
Medea.--Latter Years of her Career.--Her Artistic Tour in
America.--Her Death, and Estimate placed on her Genius

GREAT SINGERS, SECOND SERIES, MALIBRAN TO TITIENS.

MARIA FELICIA MALIBRAN.
The Childhood of Maria Garcia.--Her Father's Sternness and Severe
Discipline.--Her First Appearance as an Artist on the Operatic
Stage.--Her Genius and Power evident from the Beginning.--Anecdotes
of her Early