The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-12
Schumann-Heink
Will, Be Soloist
at Next Concert

Announcement is made that the sec
ond Richmond concert of the New
York Philharmonic society will be
rendered ut the City auditorium on
Wednesday, January 22d. The soloist
at this concert will be the beloved
Nine. Schumann HeInk,
G.. Conrad in the Bayreuth Festival
Book of 1912 has this TO say of Shu-
mann-Heink:
Just Schumann- Heink, just the art
list. Without epithet Let 1t remain
to the small and mediocre to orna"
ment her personality and add to 1t
by meansyof decorative phrases. Schu-
mann-Heink Is everything In one,
The woman, the mother, the singer,
and the actress--and uniquely big. 1t
Is that bigness which impresses of it
self, Is Understandable of itself and
which. because of its powerfully con-
vincing naturalness, makes every
explanation superfuous tina savours
of soholasticism or criticism.
When we hear the name Schumann-
Heink. another name, the name of
scored place echoes within our soul,
Bayreuth, person. work and name
blend In mystic harmony and increase
to mighty resonance the spiritual;
body of the Festival-Hiil wonder Is
part of the secret of Bayreuth.
SO long as she lives amongst us in
the visible and audible unfolding OF
her human and artistic personality,
her name will sound restlessiy in the
world of culture and fash through the
American and Eropean newspapers.
But some day this name will gain rest,
a firm hold and q fixed star-like lug-
ter in the heavens of Bayreuth. inde-
structabl In the halo surrounding all,
those who in the service of our mas
ter, have brought their lives and their
arts to sacrifice them In the altar OF
beauty. Who would undertake to an
alyze her aesthetically, or describe
her in her so-called principal roles
when we have the privilege OF en-
joying her living self? Were 1t not
pedantIc censurers still to wish TO
trace out with critical finenesses the
secret OF her artistic charm? And
would 1t be possible with the help OF
aphorismS selected from the critical
fraternities wisdom, TO increase In the
least the extraordinary effect she
produces in her serving Fidelity to the
master work. Hear her. see her. re-
ceiye her into your soul as Urwala
Erda, as Morn, as Waltraute and pass
ing from the heights and depths of
these divine beginnings to the homely
and simple--as Magdalena.
Schumann-Heink-w Tecollec-
tons spring up In the Bayreuth pill
grinms breast at the mention of this
name. I need think only of the
Ring" Of Wotans terrified question,
who art thu, warning woman 2" and
how Schumann- II eink-E rda gives an
swer for answer In deep, full. over
powering tones, How all was. know /,
ALL that is, ends" A mournful day
for the gods is dawning. And the con-
1T sfa t. 1rNr
my dreams meditations. my medita~
tons manifestations of wisdom" And,
how the tragic grandness' of the poem
Is achieved In the songs OF the Norm,
and In the singing and acting person
ifications of Waltraute, the maid of the
shield. How We join In Brunhildes
| Joyous cry. Waltraute's CALI know
| 1t. what bliss AS long as we I've,
garden of delight will bloom within
our inermost being in the remem-
| brance OF the happiness and the deep
/ emotions which our souls owe TO
| Schumann Heink's taking part in the
| presentation Of the masterworks on
Festival HILL
And from this revelation of high
est art we not only draw the lesson
| of purest cheerfulness. but also of
| that sacred seriousness which In ar
| tistic intercourse with the gods, leads
us to the final moreal, self~examina-
ton after the words Of Erda to
wotam, Thou knoweSt enough, think
! In anxiety and fear"
That is Bayreuth's blessing and
| Madame Schumann-Heink has con-
tributed her just portion to its in
crease. that. not the science Of art
nor the talk about its nature and
effect shall help to upiift humanity,
! but only the most fervent and intense
absorbing of il, with the while strength
| OF mind and body. Schumann~Heink,
| Bayrouther, means more than title
| OF honor in the history OF art. as
| Trda, Morn, Waltraute and Magda-
lena, her principle roles during the
| festival she is.cSlrd along with, and.
/ Az part OF the masters art, 10 be
| worker in the creating OF future
| German culture in all lines
| Obedient and faithful to the mas
| ter In the reproduction of his charac-
| tors, never striving to dazzle, but en-
| deavoring to realize the ideal aim OF
| the dramatist through an accurate
! characterization and a complete ex-
| haustins of the physical contents, Err
nestine Schumann-H eink Is n noble
example for all those. who, SO men
and artists, have real worth to Of
| fer and thus become the chosen OF
| those who are called.
| IN 1Ift1-,1 fCxdeIO Hf1ana~x+{uua At