“The De Reszkes, Jean and Edouard, were near at the time, and offered to assist me. ‘Try it,’ they said, and so I agreed. We began rehearsals, almost without study, the very next day, both the De Reszkes prompting me, and by Friday they had me letter-perfect and ready to go on. Since the time seemed so peculiarly short, they feared for me, and, during the performance, stationed themselves, one in either wing, to reassure me. Whenever I approached near to either side of the stage, it was always to hear their repeated ‘Be calm!’ whispered so loud that the audience could almost hear it. Yet I sang easily, never thinking of failure.”
MUSICAL TALENT OF AMERICAN GIRLS
“Let me ask you one thing,” I said. “Has America good musical material?”
“As much as any other country, and more, I should think. The higher average of intelligence here should yield a greater percentage of musical intelligence.”
“Then there ought to be a number of American women who can do good work of a high order?”
“There ought to be, but it is a question whether there will be. They are not cut out for the work which it requires to develop a good voice. I have noticed that young women seem to underestimate the cost of distinction. It means more than most of them are prepared to give; and, when they face the exactions of art, they falter and drop out. Hence we have many middle-class singers, but few really powerful ones.”
“What are these exactions you speak of?”
“Time, money, and loss of friends, of pleasure. To be a great singer means, first, to be a great student. To be a great student means that you have no time for balls and parties, very little for friends, and less for carriage rides and pleasant strolls. All that is really left is a shortened allowance of sleep, of time for meals, and time for exercise.”
THE PRICE OF FAME
“Permanent recognition, which cannot be taken away from you, is acquired only by a lifetime of most earnest labor. People are never internationally recognized until they have reached middle life. Many persons gain notoriety young, but that goes as quickly as it comes. All true success is founded on real accomplishment acquired with difficulty.