THE RIVAL SINGERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLX, Issue 8166, 18 August 1887, Page 7

THE RIVAL SINGERS.

In 1847 Giulia Grisi and Jenny Lmd were Binging in London, but at different places. Each ‘star’ struggled to outshine the other, and those who one evening went into ecstacies over Grisi’s Norma were the next - evening anraptured with a Adalgisa. - Such the rivalry that it was not to be expected Oiat they .up together at a public concert. But her Majesty requested them both to appear at a concert given by ■ her Of course they complied with the re- • quest The Queen welcomed them cordially, and expressed her pleasure at seeing them together for the first time. She then gave the signal for the concert to begin. As . Jenny Lind was the younger of the two, it had been arranged that she ahould sing first. With perfect confidence in her power, she stepped forward and began. But, chancing to look at Grisi, she saw the Southerner’s malignant gaze fastened upon her. The fierceness of the look almost paralysed the singer. Her courage left her, her voice trembled, and everything before her eyes • darkened. She became so faint that she nearly fell. By the utmost exertion of her will, however, she succeeded in finishing the aria. The painful silence that followed its • conclusion convinced her that she had failed, which was confirmed by the triumphant expression on Griai’s face. Despite the semitorpidity of her senses she realised that the failure meant lost glory, the destruction of her happiness, and the mortification and grief of her parents and friends. Suddenly something—it seemed like a voice from heaven -whispered, 'Sing one of the old B onga in yonr mother-tongue.’ She'caught at the idea, as an inspiration that had been flashed into her mind, between the termination of the vocal part of the aria and the accompanist’s final chords. Unnoticed by the company, she asked him to rise, and took the vacated seat. For a few seconds she suffered her fingers to wander over the keys in a low prelude, and then she began to sing. Her selection was a little prayer which she had loved above all others in her childhood’s repertoire. She had not thought of it for years. As she sang, she was no longer in the presence of royalty, but in her Fatherland, surrounded by those who listened not to criticise. Not one before her understood the words of the prayer, but tho plaintiveness of the melody and the sweet voice brought the moisture to every eye. When, having finished the prayer, she raised her mild blue eyes to her rival, whose flam ing orbs had so disconcerted her, she found no fierce expression on her countenance. A moment after, with the impulsiveness characteristic of the children of the South, Grisi rushed to Jenny Lind’s aide, placed her arm round the girl’s neck, and kissed her, regardless of the lookers-on.