THE NATURE OF THE SINGING VOICE

THE story goes-a well-authenticated story-that Sir George Grove once asked Sir Charles Santley to adjudicate at a competition for young singers at the Royal College of Music. Santley duly attended, but refused to award a prize, on the ground that none of the competitors had been taught the art of singing. Grove, much upset, pressed him to modify his opinion, but Santley replied forthrightly that that was the view he took and he was unable to take another.