The great demand of the day in the violin field, as in that of other
musical instruments, is for dazzling pyrotechnic feats. It has perhaps
reached its climax in the young Bohemian Jan Kubelik, whose playing has
been pronounced technically stupendous. In the mad rush for advanced
technique, the soul of music it is meant to convey is, alas, too often
forgotten.
[Illustration: JENNY LIND]
IX
Queens of Song
Our first queen of song was Vittoria Archilei, that Florentine lady of
noble birth who labored faithfully with the famous "Academy" to discover
the secret of the Greek drama. It was she who furthered the success of
the embryo operas of Emilio del Cavalieri, late in the sixteenth
century, and roused enthusiasm by her splendid interpretation for Jacopo
Peri's "Eurydice," the first opera presented to the public. She was
called "Euterpe" by her Italian contemporaries because her superb voice,
artistic skill, musical fire and intelligence fitted her to be the muse
of music.
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