Ernestine Schumann Heink

Ernestine Schumann-Heink's life had the before-and-after quality of a fairy story. Born in poverty, she became rich. Considered plain and plump in appearance, on stage she was regal and impressive. When she began singing in public, at age 15, no one thought she would become a professional singer. When she moved to San Diego, at age 48, music critics in Europe and the United States hailed her as "the world's outstanding contralto."
Ernestine was told that she would never become an opera singer. That was a cruel assesment she received by the Vienna Opera manager and very depressing.How did the greatest singer ever of her time react to such brutality? Did she agree with the opera manager?  When she was broke and had no money to feed her young children, did she not manage to buy a sewing machine and try to make a living out of it as she had been advised? For every obstacle she met throughout her life and for very setback she faced, she kept a positive attitude. She had a positive mental and emotional reaction towards all life difficulties. She did not let any words of discouragement stop her from wanting to pursue her career. She refused to quit and do something else just because she had no money. Her attitude towards people, situations, events and circumstances were fully positive. She became Madame Ernestine Schumann Heink.