The Oracle of Paris: Pauline Viardot-Garcia
“Art at present is a fashion. Good health and good lungs are the requirements for singing the present school of music. Vocally it consists of declamatory sounds. Adieu to trills, scales and arpeggios. They require too much time and work. What is required now is the financial result as soon as possible- and technical proficiency requires years of study. Nevertheless, the singer who has mastered the Italian method - so called - will render the modern Wagner and modern school of composition more easily, retaining the beauty and freshness of voice much longer than those lacking this technical training”
