Evening star., 1927-11-01
SCHUMANN-HE|NK
GREAT |NFAREWELl
Makes Final Concert Appear
ance Before Thousands Led
by Mrs. Coolidge.

Nine. Ernestine Schumann Heink
who has become generally known as
the greatest contralto" and is affec.
tionately termed "the grandmother of
prima donnas' and "the grand dame
Of song" made her farewell appear
ance in professional concert last night
at the Washington Auditorium before
an audience of thousands of people,
led in enthusiastic reception of her
last program here by Mrs. Calvin
Coolidge.
There was that warmth and mag
fcal sympathetic atmosphere present
that is being extended to few artists.
After the last two encores. so appro-
priately "Stille Nacht" and THE Ro-
sary," both requests with accompani-
ment PLAYED on the great organ of
the Auditorium by Miss Katherine
Hoffman,. Nine. Schumann Heink' S
excellent accompanist, the audience
remained, in rare tribute to the great
singer. and forced her to give a short
speech, almost incoherent from choked
tears and strained emotions. in which
she mentioned that she wanted the
epftaph on her grave to be: "She was
good to the doughboys." 1t recalled
rendered to the boys in this country
during the war and also the fact that
she lost boys of her own, who were
fighting on both sides. in the Ameri,
can and German armies. There were
100 Walter Reed ''doughboys" present
last night.
Will Continue Music.
Nine. Schumann Heink said this
farewell" is merely to the concert
audiences whom she has served for
half a century, and that she will still
serve music in imparting knowledge
that she has gained from all this ex-
perience to selected young girls who
have the talents and capacity of work
that will make her feel they are equip
ped to carry on her great art.
1t was rs years ago almost to a day
October 10, 1902-when Nine. Schu-
mann-Heink made her concert debut
in Washington. This concert was also
under the management of 7. Arthur
Smith, who presented her in the pro-
gram last night. At that earlier time
she sang as guest soloist" with the
Washington Choral Society under the
director, Josef Kaspar.
1t is really q thing at which to mar
vel. the way in which the rich caliber
of her voice shines forth in passages
of rounded notes like strings of lus-
trous pearls after so years of steady
concert and operate work. Her deep
true contralto notes are still wonderful
and full of the dark color that has
always marked the Schumann.Heink
individuality. Her high notes, beauti-
fully placed head-tones, also had bell
like clarity and showed the result of
correct training in youth for them to
have remained so lovely through all
that period of time. Only in the mezzo
voice and breathing was noticeable
the slight roughness and inability to
control exactly the tone color desired
that comes with the wearing of time
Honored by Veterans.
In her first group OF songs Frank
La Forge's Before the Crucifix" was
very dramatically given, but the "All-
macht" was the most impressive with
RaSbachs Trees" Her second group
OF German Lieder was sung as only
this great singer can sing the songs
of her native land. LeweS connical
little lullaby was given as one of the
numerous highlights of the program
and the Richard Strauss "Traum
durch die Dammerung" was exquisite
ly phrased. The feature Of the group,
however, was Arditi's ''Bolero," which
Mime. Schumann-Heink sang with all
the swing and gusto that have always
marked her Interpretation of this, one
OF her most popular numbers. 1t was
substituted for the Donizetti "Brin-
disi" from "Lucrezia Borgia."
After this group the Walter Reed
boys sent up their bouquet of red and
white carnations tied with the coIors
and she sang Danny Boy" for them
and followed it with by the Waters
of AIinnetonka."
The last group included Mary
Trnner Salter's "Cry of Rachel" Mac
Fadyen's Cradle Song" light, gay
rendition of the old Kerry Dance
and a special and very impressive ar.
rangement Of Taps" made by Joseph
Pasternack. This great singer carries
no little black book Of words and has
no stage mannerisms'' her natural
ness and personal charm always have
as much appeal to her audience as
her music.
Nine. Schumann-Heink had as her
personal guests last night the mem
bers of the President Theater Light
Opera Company here. She is an en-.
thusiastic indorser of their plans for
Washfngton's revival of light operas
and says she hopes to see every city
Al tfFS country 90 likewise.
Florence Hardeman, the charming
violinist wha has been with the great
contralto in concert programs for the
past six years, contributed Lalo's Sym
phonie Espagnole," .''Valse in G fiat"
Chopin-Spalding), Largo" from New
World Symphony" vorak-Kreisler)
and Chorus of Dervishes" Beethoven
Auer), with an arrangement of No
body Knows de Trouble I've Seen"
and Winternitz's arrangement of "Old
Corinthian Melody" as encores. She
was received with appreciatiye ap-
plause.
Nine. Schumann-Heink was a guest
at luncheon at the White House yes
terday. She sang there previously
during the Roosevelt. Taft and Wilson
administrations and has also appeared
in musical program presented during
the Coolidge administration. H. L.