She told me the secret of the true _tempo rubato_ without which Chopin's music is disfigured.

It in no way resembles the dislocations by which it is so often caricatured.
I have spoken of her great talent as a pianist.

We saw this one evening at a concert given by Madame Schumann.

After Madame Viardot had sung some of Schumann's _lieder_ with the great pianist playing the accompaniments, the two great artists played the illustrious author's duet for two pianos, which fairly bristles with difficulties, _with equal virtuosity_.
When Madame Viardot's voice began to break, she was advised to devote herself to the piano.

If she had, she would have found a new career and a second reputation.