Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-08
Music
schumann-Heink at the Auditorium

Schumann-Heink at the Auditorium.
1t was quite a large audience that faced
the frosty co~untenance of the January
night, ana the equally forbidding and aus
tere appearance of the Omaha Auditorium,
in order to pay respects to Nine. Schu-
mann-Heink, the well known operate
contralto. The gallery was filled in fire.
quent spots, and made a generally good
showing. The lower floor was two-thirds
occupied and the wit, beauty, culture and
wealth of the local aristocrary was in evil
dence very completely and added lustre
to the scene.
The audience was enthusiastic and heart
lily welcomed the good things, as well as
those which were of lesser import. The
greatest applause of the evening was at
the end Of the "Daanza," a song by Mr..
Chadwick of Boston, an eminent American
musical luminary. This applause was due
to the very original ending Of the song, in
which Nine. Schumann-TIeink's humorous
singing of the lines by Inez 1 was taught
called forth unmitigated merriment. The
third group OF songs, the German Lieder
group, songs by Schubert, ~Schumann,
Brahms, Weingartner. Strauss. Stein, Hill
dach, were probably given the most gener-
Gus expression of thanks and appreciation
on the part of the audience to the singer.
In these the great contralto was at her
best. Many are called to sing these great
German Lieder, but few are chosen. Nine.
Schumann-Heink is one of the chosen. Per-
haps, on the occasion of her next visit, she
may elect to give more of those too I'M
familiar blossoms, and give the great tone
poets a chance for a more extensive &C
| quaintance. Robert Franz wrote a few
beautiful things, too, at least a few.
1t was an unmixed pleasure to hear the
encore songs which the singer generously
added to the evenings contribution, and
they were completely characteristic of the
singer in her actual living personality.
The "Waltraute' music from the "Twi-
light of the Gods" (Goetterdaemmerung)
by Richard Wagner, gave an opportunity
to hear some wonderful ~tone-qualities and
in this Nine. Schumann-Heink did some OF
her best work, and when this artist Is al
her best, where is her equal in that direc-
ton? The wonderful weaving and inter
weaving of lett mntiv with lett motiv the
suggestions of the Spear, Walhalla, Distress
OF the Gods, Anger of Wotan, etc.
which surround this wonderful ap-
peal of Brunnhilde's sister, neces.
sarily were too much in the back.
ground for distinct hearing, as a plano Ii
after all only a piano, and the Auditorium
is a vast space. Excepting the lact of car
rying power, owing undoubtedly to the
aforementioned vastness, the accompani
ments were played with a true spirit OF
artistic comprehension and musicianly
adaptability by Mrs. Katherine Hoffman.
The five songs in English were not the
best that could have been chosen and 1
seemed strange that with a group of five
American songs, or rather, songs by Amer
lean composers, MacDoweil was not repre-
scented.
The Omaha audiences will. probably will
their usual good grace, take a kindly sug
gestion from a musical reviewer, and tina
is TO the effect that a little consideration
will probably prevent the too-sudden burs
Of applause at the end Of the singing, in
good song: some of the best songs hav,
an instrumental ending which is a rea
part and portion Of the song. These wer,
spoiled last night In several instances b!
the too hasty plaudits Of enthusiastic voice
lovers. The accOmpanist deserves as mucl
courtesy as the singer. X.