With the exception of the Bachs, who were noted musicians for six
generations, and the Viennese branch of the Strauss dynasty, there is
perhaps no musical family that affords a more interesting illustration
of heredity in a special talent than the Garcias. The elder Garcia, who
was born in 1775, was not only a great tenor and teacher, but a prolific
composer of operas. His two famous daughters also became composers, as
well as singers. Madame Viardot (who died in 1910) was so lucky as to be
able to base her operettas on librettos written by Turgenev. Liszt said
of her that "in all that concerns method and execution, feeling and
expression, it would be hard to find a name worthy to be mentioned with
that of Malibran's sister," and Wagner was amazed and delighted when she
sang the Isolde music in a whole act of his Tristan at sight. She
studied the piano with Liszt and played brilliantly.