The Greatest of Contraltos.--Marietta Alboni's Early Surroundings.--Rossini's Interest in her Career.--First Appearance on the Operatic Stage.--Excitement produced in Germany by her Singing.--Her Independence of Character.--Her Great Success in London.--Description of her Voice and Person.--Concerts in Paris.--The Verdicts of the Great French Critics.--Hector Berlioz on Alboni's Singing.--She appears in Opera in Paris.--Strange Indifference of the Audience quickly turned to Enthusiasm.--She competes favorably in London with Grisi, Persiani, and Viardot.--Takes the Place of Jenny Lind as Prima Donna at Her Majesty's.--She extends her Voice into the Soprano Register.--Performs "Fides" in "Le Prophete."--Visit to America.--Retires from the Stage JENNY LIND. The Childhood of the "Swedish Nightingale."--Her First Musical Instruction.--The Loss and Return of her Voice.--Jenny Lind's Pupilage in Paris under Manuel Garcia.--She makes the Acquaintance of Meyerbeer.--Great Sue-cess in Stockholm in "Robert le Diable."--Fredrika Bremer and Hans Christian Andersen on the Young Singer.--Her _Debut_ in Berlin.--Becomes Prima Donna at the Royal Theatre.--Beginning of the Lind Enthusiasm that overran Europe.--She appears in Dresden in Meyerbeer's New Opera, "Feldlager in Schliesen."--Offers throng in from all the Leading Theatres of Europe.--The Grand _Furore_ in Every Part of Germany.--Description of Scenes in her Musical Progresses.--She makes her _Debut_ in London.--Extraordinary Excitement of the English Public, such as had never before been known.--Descriptions of her Singing by Contemporary Critics.--Her Quality as an Actress.--Jenny Lind's _Personnel_.--Scenes and Incidents of the "Lind" Mania.--Her Second London Season.--Her Place and Character as a Lyric Artist.--Mlle. Lind's American Tour.--Extraordinary Enthusiasm in America.--Her Lavish Generosity.--She marries Herr Otto Goldschmidt.--Present Life of Retirement in London.--Jenny Lind as a Public Benefactor SOPHIE CRUVELLI. The Daughter of an Obscure German Pastor.--She studies Music in Paris.--Failure of her Voice.--Makes her _Debut_ at La Fenice.--She appears in London during the Lind Excitement.--Description of her Voice and Person.--A Great Excitement over her Second Appearance in Italy.--_Debut_ in Paris.--Her Grand Impersonation in "Fidelio."--Critical Estimates of her Genius.--Sophie Cruvelli's Eccentricities.--Excitement in Paris over her _Valentine_ in "Les Huguenots."--Different Performances in London and Paris.--She retires from the Stage and marries Baron Vigier.--Her Professional Status.--One of the Most Gifted Women of any Age THERESA TITIENS.