Jenny Lind vs Adelina Patti: The Diva Who Never Rehearsed

I sang for orphans and charities, Adelina, and gave away the fortune Mr. Barnum built me into a legend.

How noble, Jenny, but I earned five thousand dollars a night in gold, in advance, and never sang a note without it in my hand.

You'd waltz in barely knowing the score while I drilled every phrase until it was pure devotion, not commerce.

Devotion doesn't fill a house, darling; they packed the Met to hear me sing 'Home, Sweet Home' as an encore, and I gave it only when the check cleared.