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

(U.S. Opera Home Page)

Operas

• 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]

About Walter Damrosch

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.