Mon ami, an apple is an excellent thing -- until you have tried a peach! Her voice to that of Alboni is as a peach to an apple--I give you my word of honour! but bah! the voice is a detail. It's what she does with it--it's incredible! it gives one cold all down the back! it drives you mad! it makes you weep hot tears by the spoonful! Ah! the tear, mon fy! tenez! I can draw everything but that! Ca n'est pas dans mes cordes! I can only madden with love! But La Svengali! . . . And then, in the middle of it all, prrrout! . . . she makes you laugh! Ah! le beau rire! faire rire avec des larmes plein les yeux--voila qui me passe! .. . Mon ami, when I heard her it made me swear that even I would never try to sing any more.