Ernestine Schumann-Heink by Aime Dupont

ERNESTINE SCHUMANN-HEINK
(Ernestine "Tini" Rössler )
(15 June 1861 – 17 November 1936),
German/American Contralto
At age 15 sang soprano in a performance of Beethoven's 9th Symphony at Graz . in 1878 made her stage debut as Azucena at Dresden. Engaged in 1882 at Hamburg ,she sang a wide variety of roles . ranging from Amneris, Orpheo ,Orsini , Ulrica , Bertyha , Quickly . She never ventured into the soprano range , She made guest appearances at London and Berlin .She sang " The Ring " at BayreuthShe went to the Usa in 1898 and was Ortrud at Chicargo , Made her Metropolitan debut 1899 in the same role.Her final appearance at the Met was 1932 singing Erda'