Mme. Ernestine Schumann-Heink

Ernestine Schumann-Heink sings selections from Der Erlkonig, "Trees", and "Pirate Dreams" in this Vitaphone short subject.

Madame Schumann-Heink was one of those people famous for a high-brow art who dabbled in low-brow stuff like movies and singing "Stille Nacht" every Christmas over the radio. It wasn't slumming. It was a combination of missionary work, elevating the masses, and a sense that art was a continuum and that it didn't hurt the fan of low-class jazz to listen to opera. He might like it.

Of course there was a snobbery involved. Madame was considered a great artist and people should listen to her, like her or not, and eat their spinach. Avoid that awful Louis Armsrong and collard greens.

Still, there is a pleasure to listening to Madame's careful Germanic handling of these subjects. Try it. You might like it.