Schumann-Heink - age 73 - 1934 - Minnetonka Waters

Retired Wagnerian contralto Ernestine Schumann-Heink sings Thurlow Weed Lieurance's "By the Waters of the Minnetonka," as heard on a Gerber's Baby Food radio broadcast of 1934. This recording is taken from a well-worn radio transcription disc, produced when the great lady was 73 years of age--two years before her death by diabetes in 1936. She sang until very nearly the end of her life. Schumann-Heink was one of the most revered of the old-time opera stars, in large measure due to her love of life and legendary humanity. Also, she wasn't afraid to let down her hair to have some fun....as clearly indicated in Millocker's yodeling song, "I und mei Bua," which I posted on 2/11/08. From time to time she undertook roles far removed from the Wagnerian realm. In 1894 she sang the role of Prins Orlovsky, under none other than Gustav Mahler, in Hamburg, in the famous production of Die Fledermaus that elevated Strauss's operetta to opera repertoire. Also worth noting is the fact that in 1931, when Schumann-Heink was 70, she appeared in Gilbert and Sullivan's THE MIKADO as Katisha. Wonder whether I'm the only one who cannot listen to "By the Waters of the Minnetonka" without thinking of that old Bugs Bunny film-cartoon that opens with Bugs, dressed in Native American attire--with a feather in his head-band--paddling his canoe on what was meant to be the waters of the Minnetonka... Just goes to show what effect popular culture has on ones aesthetic makeup!