Of Lena Geyer

The mysterious nature of an artistic gift, how it affects those who possess it and those who surround them, is a theme that has inspired many a plot, "Amadeus" being one of the best. Marcia Davenport's superb 1936 novel "Of Lena Geyer" has for its heroine a soprano of spectacular talent, a woman who casts a brilliant spell over her admirers, the ones who adore her unquestioningly as well as those who challenge her. It's not surprising that this was one of Ingrid Bergman's favorite books; she tried for years, unsuccessfully, to have it produced on the screen. The story opens with Lena Geyer's funeral; and the various mourners remember what they know of Lena Geyer, so that the plot unfolds as a series of post-mortem reminiscences. Most of the memories are generous, though this complicated artist's temper and prejudices are frankly described. Lenzka Gyruzkova is a dumpy Bohemian adolescent, a charwoman's daughter, when musically-trained men recognize in her a quick ear and a radiant voice. She masters roles easily, and she eventually becomes an important star in both Europe and America. Her repertoire is formidable, everything from Carmen to Isolde. Though she engages in a passionate, jealous affair with a man of incredible wealth, her marriage is to a protective father figure. In fact, she resembles Maria Callas; but Callas was only thirteen when "Of Lena Geyer" was published. Like so many real-life divas, Lena has many physical problems, and she does not enjoy a long life. But her death bed is surrounded by her devotees, who see her breathing the last words of the Liebestod: " ... ertrinken, versinken unbewusst höchste Lust!" The novel is deceptively biographical (you'll find yourself thumbing back to an index that doesn't exist) and technically historical, because the fictional Lena interacts with people who really lived: Lilli Lehmann is her advanced teacher, Mahler conducts when Lena sings Donna Anna in "Don Giovanni", and Jean de Reszke is her co-star in "Tannhäuser". Needless to say, "Of Lena Geyer" is a cult favorite with opera buffs, but the average reader will certainly be able to appreciate this expertly written novel. A Trivia Pursuit footnote: "Of Lena Geyer" is dedicated to Alma Gluck, a Met soprano of the First World War era (who, incidently, is mentioned in fictional context). As it turns out, Alma Gluck was Marcia Davenport's mother. I have no idea who Mr Davenport was, but Alma Gluck's second husband was the violinist Efrem Zimbalist, with whom she toured in concert. This means that Marcia Davenport, the author, was the half-sister of Efrem Zimbalist Jr, the TV and film actor.