Jenny Lind's Great Triumph

1906

Won Jealous Rival by Sweetness of Simple Song

A beautiful little incident is told concerning Jenny Lind and Grisi, when they were rivals for popular favor in London. Both were invited to sing the same night at a court concert before the queen. Jenny Lind, being the younger, sang first, and was so disturbed by the fierce, scornful look of Grisi that she was at the point of failure, when suddenly an inspiration came to her. The accompanist was striking his final chords. She asked him to rise and took the vacant seat. Her fingers wandered over the keys in a loving prelude, and then she sang a little prayer which she had loved as a child. She hadn't sung it for years. As she sang she was no longer in the presence of royalty, but singing to loving friends in her fatherland.

Softly at first the plaintive notes floated on the air, swelling louder and richer every moment. The singer seemed to throw her whole soul into that weird, thrilling, plaintive "prayer." Gradually the song died away and ended in a sob. There was silence — the silence of admiring wonder. The audience sat spell-bound. Jenny Lind lifted her sweet eyes to look into the scornful face that had so disconcerted her. There was no fierce expression now; instead, a tear-drop glistened on the long, black lashes, and after a moment, with the impulsiveness of a child of the tropics, Grisi crossed to Jenny Lind's side, placed her arms about her, and kissed her, utterly regardless of the audience. — Exchange.

Comment: Maybe they ought to try that on American Idol. But you could say, 'Isn't it just like Grisi, stealing Jenny's moment and drawing attention to herself after such a tender moment?!' (The sentiment of this article is kind of sickening.)

Temperament Is a Costly Luxury for Misha Elman

1920

FAMOUS VIOLINIST, WHO BROKE CONTRACT TO PLAY HERE, FORCED TO PART WITH COIN

Misha Elman, "the Great Elman," by his own admission, has learned that an "artistic temperament" is a costly luxury, especially when he gives vent to it in Appleton. The famous violinist is out several hundred dollars because of his refusal to carry out his contract to appear in a concert at Lawrence Memorial chapel a few weeks ago, it was announced this morning. Dean F. V. Evans of Lawrence Conservatory yesterday received a check from Elman's lawyers in payment in full of the conservatory's claims against the artist. The conservatory was represented by Attorney J. P. Frank.

It will be remembered that Elman was to appear here in concert shortly after Max Rosin, boy violinist thrilled Appleton music lovers, but the Russian star was seized with a fit of temperament and refused to go on with the concert because music lovers had been invited to compare his music with that of Rosin. "Compare me, the great Elman, with Max Rosin, a mere boy, bah!" Elman is alleged to have said. He also was peeved because, he said, his concert was not advertised sufficiently.

His lawyers, however, apparently reached the conclusion that in this country "artistic temperament" cannot be accepted as an excuse for violation of contract. Their payment to Dean Evans completely vindicates the latter in his dealings with the artist. It is also possible that Misha Elman will exercise better control of his emotions hereafter.

--The Appleton Daily Post, Appleton, Wisconsin, January 6, 1920, page 5.

Note: His name is frequently spelled Mischa Elman in references to him online.