Rosa Ponselle anecdotes about Toscanini, Martinelli and Gigli vs Caruso

That makes sense with Martinelli. I noticed a similar problem in Milanov who could make such gorgeous tones when singing long drawn-out phrases, but she often sounded like a parrot squawking on quick, stacatto notes such as exclamations where she couldn't spin her sound.
Ponselle was a very emotional singer. She retired shortly from The Met after she lost a fatherly general manager who coddled and took care of her.

Thanks TSquare. I always enjoy these extracts when people such as you and Seattleoperafan post them - it humanises what we can so easily idealise.