Walter Johannes Damrosch Born: 30 Jan. 1862, Breslau, Germany (now Poland) Emigrated: 1871 Died: 22 Dec. 1950, New York, NY

• The Scarlet Letter, opera in 3 acts. Libretto by G. P. Lathrop, after the novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne. (10 Feb. 1896, Boston)
• The Dove of Peace, comic opera in 3 acts. Libretto by W. Irwin. (15 Oct. 1912, Philadelphia)
• Cyrano, opera in 4 acts. Libretto by W.J. Henderson, after the play by Edmund Rostand (27 Feb. 1913, NY Met, with Alda, R. Martin, Amato, c. Hertz, d. Rovescalli/Maison Marie Muelle, p. Speck, 5 performances)
• The Man without a Country, opera in 2 acts. Libretto by Arthur Guiterman, after the story by Edward Everett Hale. (12 May 1937, NY Met, with Traubel, Carron, c. by the composer, 5 performances) [cast inc. Philip Nolan, t]

Son of the early Met conductor Leopold Damrosch, Walter Damrosch was also an important figure in turn-of-the-century New York's musical life. As assistant conductor at the Met and music director of the Oratorio Society and the New York Symphony Society, as a music educator, and as a proponent for American composers, most notably George Gershwin, Aaron Copland, and Deems Taylor, he made a significant contribution to American musical life. His own operas, mostly conservative (as were the composers he tended to champion) are not generally considered important in their own right.

Balcony scene from Cyrano, on Souvenirs from American Operas. Various artists, 1998. Compact disc: IRCC 818.