“I came to New York to fulfil my contract for the season of 1894-1895. While doing that I made a study of Wagner’s, and, indeed, of all German music; and when the season was over went back and sang it.”
“To Frau Wagner’s satisfaction?”
“Yes.”
“Have you found your work very exacting?”
“Decidedly so. It leaves little time for anything else.”
“To do what you have done requires a powerful physique, to begin with?”
“Yes, I should judge so.”
“Are you ever put under extraordinary mental strain?”
“Occasionally.”