The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1936-11-19


BY her, father who despite his struggles to maintain
family on the small pay of his service too aris
ocratie to think o stage for his daughter.
at IL Ernestne aoessler sent to the Ursuline
convent Prague. The nun in charge of the school
choir noted her and assigned her to sing tenor
parts at mass
Al photographer monograph written many
later revealed that the future diva did not then
that the deep tones which enabled her to sing
the tenor cleft marked her voice true contralto
IN fact She did not know what contralto was until
former French prima donna visited the convent.
Interested IL her voice and undertook to Gull
vate it.
Out OF that development came increasing local
finish her studies al the convent addition was
arranged before the director of the Vienna Court
Opera fier vocal powers impressed him less than
cid her lack OF pulclrlude
With such face and figure personality at
H. how can you expect to succeed?" he exclaimed.
With wave OF the hand he added:
MY dear child you'd better give up the idea of
7nging. Buy sewing machine and go to work.
you'll never be artist"
AS Nine Schumsjn-H eink the singer used to cite
his experience 70 cheer struggling young vocalists
nd as lesson TO girls OF what could do in
The face of discoureg1nents
home to help her mother with the housework But
ord of her had travelled and there came an in
citation to Try for place with the royal opera at
Dresden. She left home the pretext of visiting
chool chum and came back a few days later amazing
her parents with contract to sing three years at
Dresden at a salary OF 5000 year She made her
debut "Azuoens" IN III Trovatore" on October -
1878.
Up to this time all her singing had been by ear
md she had almost knowledge of musical tech
ique. So She began strenuous course of instruction
under Herr Krcbs and DR.. Franz Wullner but in the
midst of it in 1882 married Ernest Heink Immediate
y her contract was cancelled and for year she was
at liberty"
Late III 1883 she got engagement in Hamburg
but at ptifully small salary Here her musical ear
md innate Sense OF bitch came to her rescue. The
chief contralto 81 the company became pqued and
efused 70 sing Carmen" notifying the management
only few hours before the curtain was 70 go up
It too late to change the bill and the manager
sent for FRAU Reuk. Without rehearsal or other
study she the role by and scored a complete
triumph
Still III Hamburg. after four children had been
born, Helnk deserted his wife and family. The sher-
if attached everything the singer owned to satisfy
CREDITOR
In 1887 size made her first appearance in Berlin
singing III II Troyatore and for the next nine years
was heard in contralto and mezzo- soprano roles in
many German cities in operas and oratorios and at
festivals Then she signed the 1o-year contract which
she later cancelled because of American successes
Just before entering upon that contract she di-
vorced Heink and married Paul Schumann actor
manager ot the Thalia Theater, Hamburg -Four chill
dren were born pothem He died in 1904 and that was
one Of The few Years in which she missed singing at
Bayieutl.
Her successes IN this country are well known and
The great part she played during the war Gays when
she had sons on both sides of the lines but remained
true to her adopted fundamental Truly great
woman mas passed in the death of the one and only
Heink