It was a late supper: buxom Emmy Destinn, one of the greatest operatic dramatic sopranos of the time (1907), and the slender young Polish pianist and boulevardier Arthur Rubinstein. Rubinstein gallantly began to discuss music:
"I try to translate your perfect breathing control into my own phrasing, and I feel certain that Chopin had exactly that on his mind when he required rubato in his works." The technical musical discussion only infuriated the diva.
"All right, all right," she screamed, smashing her champagne glass, "I know I am a good singer, but I am...
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