The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-07
ERNEsT1Nr scHuMASN-HE1SK.

ERNEsT1NE scHUMANN-HEISK.
Although Frau Schumann-Hei is still Q
young woman Just in the fulness OF her artistic
powers, and In spite of.the factthat her reputa.
ton is SO young here. she has been on the stage
for nearly twenty years. Her father was q
Major in the Austrian Army stationed at Lie.
ban. near Prague. when Ernestine Roessler.
for that Is her family name, was born on June
10. 1861. When she was IL years old her
family decided that a convent was the most ap-
propriate place for her education, as she had
already shown disposition to have little regard
for ordinary authority. So she was put into the
care Of the nuns at the Ursuline convent in
Prague. Her strong musical gifts had already
shown themselves. She was the principal
member Of the choir. and in those days was
able to carry the tenor parts in the ecclesiasti-
cal music which the nuns and the children sang.
In 1874. when she was 13 years old. her father
was transferred to Gratz. She accompanied
him andthere began the serious study of music.
Her teacher was Marietta Won Leclair.
After three years OF study Fraulein RoessleP
decided to exhibit her gifts on the stage. The
opposition Of her family was powerless to
change her purpose. She was determined to
appear professionally and carried her purpose
into practical effect when she heard that a cons
tralto was wanted at the Court Theatre in :
Dresden. She presented herself. along with
many other experienced singers. as n candi-
date for the place. She was only II years old.
Lacking experience, repertoire and every
thing except voice and talent that made
a singer useful. she stepped on the
stage and sang for the director and his assist
ant judges, Fides's aria from lie Prophetic"
"Ah. Mon Fills" and the brindisi from "Lucrezia
BorGia." To the establishment of her friends
and the very limited satisfaction of her family
she was engaged as the contralto of the Court
Theatre in Dresden. and made her debut on
Oct. 10. 1873. as Azucend in II Trovatore."
After that debut. which was brilliantly suc-
cessful. the laborious days of her career began.
There were new roles to be learned and her
musical education had in reality only COM
menccd. For three years she studied singing
with Aloysia Krebs-M ichalesi. and increased
her usefulness by many new parts. At the be-
ginning Of her fourth season with the com.
pany she married and retired from the
stage. permanently. she thought. But .
few months afterward she was again
ready to return to her professional work.
The late Bernard Pollini, who died last
winter. was at that time in Dresden. She me6
him and became a member Of the Stadt Thea
tire in Hamburg. In the autumn OF 1888 she
made her first appearance with the company
there. She remained one of its most brilliant
members until u few months ago. when she
wac u " A'' AhSIo 49, a NfNNA ~ . -
a term OF years. with the privilege OF a long va-
cation every year. 1t is this condition Of her
contract which enables her to appear here.
For seven years she was conspicuous in the
her reached the outside world She acquired
a large reRsTtorie, which ranged fro from az Er :: in
isl 9'f 5si sns de aS fS Siite." oE B%t 4 was Wis" H 4as
alone that had The The b 6n,H tG Of her hsr,v talent.
!" 'sT E f'@ at R0F tn , fS@5 nS Garden snen Pier I Q
9sSS sb ShS So srSSfi toace q f feeP h imRir rss hSsbiun n
and by her marriage with Paul Schumann. an
actorin Hamburg. got the right to connect the
as schumann-Heink that her, reputation was
made. 1t first extended beyond the boundaries
fEs Ring she sang Esdd, the Tirst Morn and
understo9d from the, fact that she has
sung such different roles a. 4rtrttd, Carmena
MdSdolens. ,Herskil as an actress is said TO be
as great IN these parts as her mQsieal achieve.
a mttthiisi eat to R the eo 81 Of her husband.
S%T .;5Iis r e the E. koy nT1,ssS Fr IL Berlin I'M.
Helnk's. voice have remarked not only on its
wonderfully extensive compass, but on the
register. Few contraltos have been described
as possessing a voice ofsuch e%venness through
imp~ercGrtible even t. lie most aeutely trained
ears. I1tT CbnlIoI VI " ~ holh W pc ~ oOihl n.
that no shade of color escapes her: IT
probably the incomparahly, beautiful and
magniheent chest H.d tones E vi b. IN hds the G G,n
Ike the deep, powerful peal of a church bell.
Yet II was these same tones in n completely diff
ferent color that made the success Of verdi's
"FalstaH" in Hamburg. when she sang Dame
Quickly. Like Mile, Calv6. Frau Schumann-
! gifts to Indicate the significance OF her roles
these accounts, are 70 be believed Yet all
the Metropolitan next winter. IL Is certain
that nc, artist ever came here with stronger
ciates who have heard her. While her charac-
ter, on he stage Is not tmpGrtant, II might he
woman ~ the greatest simplicity and natural
ness. She is u devoted wife, and mother and g
woman OF most domestic and homely tastes. II
the accounts of her disposition which have