Fritzi Scheff. She introduced Victor Herbert's "Kiss me Again"

[@monitortop]

Sullivan's allegiance to stars of an earlier day was often touching. I wish that the controllers of his estate were not so hell-bent on preventing Sullivan clips appearing on KZbin. Thanks for posting this!

[@annerood2703]

So sweet, so respectful. This was August 30, 1953. Fritzi died the following April 8. Thank you

[@rickos1915]

She, and her performance radiated class. You'll never see that again.

[@SkipMoskey]

What a treat to have these gems of American musical theater preserved forever!

[@jackbulmash4247]

Wonderful singing and technique. Notice how engaged is her chest voice. I guess this does not harm the voice as is taught today as she is singing well at 74

[@Arkelk2010]

I am impressed at how much of the voice was left at nearly 74. This was great to see and hear--I'm just imagining the impact of that characterization with her voice in her prime. (And speaking of times gone by, notice how (nearly ?) all the men are are wearing jackets and ties to be in the audience of a TV show.)

[@jimbuxton2187]

... and she sang it higher too!

[@dtkane]

I remember seeing this show; had never heard of Fritzi Scheff before, and have never forgotten her since. It is not possible to sing better than that at any age.

[@Garwfechan-ry5lk]

German Opera Singer, recorded live by Mapleson in 1901 at the MET, in Faust with Eduard de Reszke, also in Germany with Kurt Weill.

[@footlightnotes]

Thank you so much for this wonderful chance to see a really big star.

[@ejbuck23]

Heartwarming. Delightful performer. Sullivan at his best. A different era

[@SilverSingingMethod]

Amazing. Look at the tongue position at 2:38. NOT held behind the lower teeth and it NEVER should be unlike the teachers are telling students today. Amazing at 74.

[@robinpratt1516]

A fabulous elegance that has been lost in American rheater.

[@georgestrum3478]

A musical biography of her life would naturally end with this moment or start with flashbacks.

[@alycemott2583]

Every word - wonderful

[@waynebrasler]

How wonderful, and what a surprise, to see this legend.

[@DanWotanBarrett]

Fritzi: "Happening", shall we say. And what a respect for performers did Sullivan have!

[@BarryMoreno-zx4dc]

The magnificent Fritzi Schneff!

[@nstrahi604]

Anyone in 2024?😅😅

[@canamus1768]

this must be where stephen sondheim and james goldman got the inspiration for the character of heidi schiller and the song "one more kiss" in the musical "follies"--perhaps even this performance itself. very touching and moving.

[@operassassinOperaAssassin]

Wonderful!!

[@venturesome456]

Extraordinary.

[@brentg3707]

emotionally charged wonderful

[@emeric1952]

WOW What a great perfomer still.

[@irmagonzalez1968]

Beautiful, his muso timelesx

[@unclejosh4935]

The Sullivan video archives is largely untapped - so many of the greats from the first decades of the 20th century appeared on his early shows. Often these appearances are the only surviving recorded documents of the top performers active, circa 1900-1930 - a golden age on Broadway and in Vaudeville. It is a shame that the majority of the shows re-broadcast in 2023 are only highlighting the various rock groups and soloists active during the 1960s-1970s period (the period in which the shows were broadcast in color) - performers well documented in recordings, films. Fritzi Scheff created this role in Victor Herbert's Mademoiselle Modiste ca. 1905 - regrettably, she did not make commercial recordings. There is one surviving aircheck of a 1936 radio broadcast that shows this artist still in full possession of her abilities. I may be mistaken, but I have heard that Ms. Scheff died just a few weeks after this final appearance. We are seeing a audio/video hint of past Edwardian period (pre WWI) elegance - - in 1953.

[@rogerpropes7129]

Is that Burt Lancaster in the audience behind her??

[@ThomChristoph]

+Roger Propes, it sure is!

[@ThomChristoph]

+Roger Propes, it sure is!

[@bigswifty33]

She had no children, how is this possible?

[@pastelitasdelflan]

Ms. Scheff was married three times. Her second husband was John Fox, Jr., the author of a few popular novels about life in the Appalachians in the early 20th century. When I was a lot younger, many of the older people in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, still vividly remembered her arrival in town. Her luggage and trunks lined the sidewalk in front of Mr. Fox's house, causing quite a stir. She really was "larger than life".