"Could you learn to sing in German in ten days?" he urged.
"I can learn something. What shall it be?"
"Will you study 'Elsa's Dream'?"
"Yes—"
"Then in ten days, at the Royal Opera, I will hear you again." He bowed and took his departure.
Feverishly I began to study German, aided by my dear friend and teacher, Fräulein Wilcke, to whose guidance these many years I owe as excellent a German diction as any foreign or native artist possesses.
When I stepped upon the stage of the great empty Königliches Opernhaus and looked down into the Director's seat, whom should I see but Dr. Karl Muck, now the Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. That was the beginning of a warm friendship which has endured to this day, for Dr. Muck was at all times kind and sympathetic during those early days in Berlin.
I sang the waltz from "Romeo and Juliet," in French, the bird song from "Pagliacci," in Italian, and "Elsa's Dream," in German. I finished in absolute silence, as Count von Hochberg was almost alone in the darkened auditorium. Soon he came back to me and said:—
"In my office I have a contract with you for three years. Do you care to sign it?"
"But I had no idea of singing in Berlin," I protested. "I want to sing Italian."