The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-15
NINE. SCHUMANN-HEINK

Nine. Schumann- Heink, the concert con-
tralto, who has always enjoyed her au-
diences as much as they did her. has been
changed by the great sorrow which has
come into her life this week and at her
CONCERT last night her sorrow was very
evident. When one considers that it was
only last Sunday while in Kansas City
that she received word of the death of her
son who was with the German army, it
seems nothing less than marvellous that
she was able to sing some of the numbers
on her program. Only once. however, did
especially artistic rendition of Taps by
Frank LaForge, the accompanist. She had
just sung the song and the accompanies
was repeating when Nine. turned her back
to the audience and gave way to tears
Nine. Schumann- Heink is still one of the
few really, big singers of the world. and
war, one is tempted to say of America
Her wonderful personality permeated the
remotest parts OF the room last night, and
the large audience at the auditorium was
undoubtedly with her. In fact she had to
| join her in THE Star Spangled BANNER
which We'll have to admit would have been
much better if she had sung it alone, altho
she was lone on part of it
Her wonderful dramatic powers were
E I.S,rh be, best shown by the English song,
Pieardy,.'' by James H. Rogers, and She
showed her good sense of humor and her
real humanity in the way she sang some
numbers. She is undoubtedly a woman
with large. patriotic heart. and her
sweet generosity IN humorlng the spoiled
topeka audience by responding to en-
cores was marvellous.
As one of her encorcs she sang Danny
Boy which she remarked was the one
! our boys liked the best of all and she
/ repeated the Our Boys" amidst applause
Schumann-H eink has always been a IA
! yorite with Topeka musical people since
/ her first appearance here. about fifteen
( years ago Her last trip to Topeka was
about five years ago. OF course she has
| changed. but her wonderful personality will
| never change and as long as she-cares to
/ sing we think she will always win her
! audiences.
Mime. Schumnnn Hefnk was ably assisted
Iast night by her accompanist, Mr. Frank
1aForGe and Mr. Charles Carver, a bari
ZONE, who was also well received. Mr..
Lar orge made his initial appearance in
+ Topeka eight years ago as accompanist
! with Sembrick. He is wonderful In his
part as was shown by the way he helped
/ Mme. Schumann Henk to overcome her
! sorrow After having played her into
/ FEARS as the close of one of her numbers
/ ne played her back into a singing mood by
the opening of the next song He dfdn t
/ use note and kept his eyes constantly on
Mr.; LaForge Is also composer who
! has become quite famous: many of the
/ .rrHaii2 artlsts are today singing his songs
! Inc flrst encore which Mr. Carver sang,
, Retredt." fs the first song ever written
J oy Latorge. Nine. Schumann Heinl. sang
/ Que OF 1is songs and he played two of his
owl compositions as piano solos.
MI Cnarles Carver, the baritone is very
! Young and has studied voice only one wear
SO we may perhaps hear of him again in
tne future. The audience was pleased with
| his singing last night. ID. Y. n.