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Is
Specialized Talent God-Given?
[
night I heard the Diva Montserrat
Caba llé at the Ambassador
Auditorium in Pasadena. The
Auditorium was jam-packed-even
six rows of seats- three on each
s ide- on stage. The orchestra pit, which
is a huge elevator, was lowered so that
heads of those seated on it w.ere just
above stage floor level. Nearly a
hundred were seated in the orchestra
pi
t.
What extraordi nary talent the
world-renowned Diva displayed before a rapt
and delighted audience! Standing ovations
dema nded five encores before the audience
would let her retire.
January
1982
Such talent is a rarity. Caballé is one of two or
three sopranos rated al the top in the wor ld.
The director of the Performing Arts Series at
the Ambassador Auditorium told me the Diva
would like to meet me after the performance.
"Such exceptional talent!" l exclaimed on
meeting her. " Yet , as l remember Elbert Hubbard
saying sorne 68 years ago, 'genius is l percent
inspirat ion, and 99 percent perspiration.' "
She smi led. " Yes, that is true," she agreed. "If
one has talent, one must apply oneself and work
very hard to develop that talent.' '
r
have come to know a few who have
obtained world fame in the performing arts.
Arthur Rubinstein, the famous pianist. Isaac
Stern and Yehudi Menuhin , violinists, for
example. Were they specially talented above
other people? Undoubtedly, yet everyone began
while quite
young-and stuck to
it
with