Great Singers, Second Series | Page 2

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 B��riot in Concert.--She makes her _D��but_ 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 Proph��te," 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 Proph��te."--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 _D��but_ 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 _D��but_ 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 _D��but_ 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.--_D��but_ 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 _Cong��_ 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 Career.--Manuel Garcia's Operatic Enterprise in New York.--Maria Garcia is inveigled into marrying M. Malibran.--Failure of the Garcia Opera, and Maria's Separation from her Husband.--She makes her _D��but_ in Paris with Great Success.--Madame Malibran's Characteristics as a Singer, a Genius, and a Woman.--Anecdotes of her Generosity and Kindness.--She sings