Damrosch Opera Company
Encyclopedia
The Damrosch Opera Company was an American
opera
company which existed from 1894 until 1900.
The company was organized by Walter Damrosch, and was meant to present German opera
; in this capacity it did much to advance the cause of Richard Wagner
's music in the United States. Damrosch created the company to combat what he perceived to be the growing apathy, post-1890, of the general opera-going public to German opera. More specifically, his complaints were aimed against the management of the Metropolitan Opera
. The immediate impetus of the company's founding came when, in 1894, Damrosch presented concert performances of Götterdämmerung
and Die Walküre
.
Damrosch raised money for the company by selling his house in New York City
, and he spent the summer of 1894 travelling Europe
to recruit singers. Among those with whom he signed contracts were Johanna Gadski
and Rosa Sucher
, both of whom made their American debuts with the company; others included Max Alvary
and Emil Fischer. The company opened its eight-week season in New York with a performance of Tristan und Isolde
at the Metropolitan Opera, on February 25, 1895. Following this was an extensive tour; the season netted a profit of $53,000.
The company remained in business for five more years. The second season saw the addition of Milka Ternina
and David Bispham
to its rosters; Katharina Klafsky
and her husband Otto Lohse
also joined the company, but returned to Europe after the season's end. 1896 saw the premiere of Damrosch's own opera after The Scarlet Letter
. With the following season came a change of name and focus for the company; becoming the Damrosch-Ellis Company, it expanded its horizons to include both Italian
and French opera
in addition to German. Nellie Melba
and Emma Calvé
both joined the company at this time. But deficits had begun to accumulate after the second season, and mounted rapidly; these forced the company to close for good in 1900.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
company which existed from 1894 until 1900.
The company was organized by Walter Damrosch, and was meant to present German opera
German opera
Opera in German is the opera of the German-speaking countries, most notably Germany and Austria...
; in this capacity it did much to advance the cause of Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
's music in the United States. Damrosch created the company to combat what he perceived to be the growing apathy, post-1890, of the general opera-going public to German opera. More specifically, his complaints were aimed against the management of the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
. The immediate impetus of the company's founding came when, in 1894, Damrosch presented concert performances of Götterdämmerung
Götterdämmerung
is the last in Richard Wagner's cycle of four operas titled Der Ring des Nibelungen...
and Die Walküre
Die Walküre
Die Walküre , WWV 86B, is the second of the four operas that form the cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen , by Richard Wagner...
.
Damrosch raised money for the company by selling his house in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and he spent the summer of 1894 travelling Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to recruit singers. Among those with whom he signed contracts were Johanna Gadski
Johanna Gadski
Johanna Gadski was a German soprano blessed with a secure, powerful, ringing voice, fine musicianship and an excellent technique. These attributes enabled her to enjoy a top-flight career in New York City and London, performing heavy dramatic roles in the German and Italian repertoires.-Life &...
and Rosa Sucher
Rosa Sucher
Rosa Sucher , née Hasselbeck, was a German operatic soprano renowned for her Wagnerian performances....
, both of whom made their American debuts with the company; others included Max Alvary
Max Alvary
Max Alvary , originally Maximilian Achenbach, was a German operatic tenor.Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, he was the son of the painter Andreas Achenbach, over whose initial objections he pursued his singing career...
and Emil Fischer. The company opened its eight-week season in New York with a performance of Tristan und Isolde
Tristan und Isolde
Tristan und Isolde is an opera, or music drama, in three acts by Richard Wagner to a German libretto by the composer, based largely on the romance by Gottfried von Straßburg. It was composed between 1857 and 1859 and premiered in Munich on 10 June 1865 with Hans von Bülow conducting...
at the Metropolitan Opera, on February 25, 1895. Following this was an extensive tour; the season netted a profit of $53,000.
The company remained in business for five more years. The second season saw the addition of Milka Ternina
Milka Ternina
Milka Ternina was a Croatian dramatic soprano who enjoyed a high reputation in major American and European opera houses...
and David Bispham
David Bispham
David Scull Bispham was the first American–born operatic baritone to win an international reputation.- Early life and family:...
to its rosters; Katharina Klafsky
Katharina Klafsky
Katharina Klafsky was a Hungarian operatic singer whose acclaimed international career was cut short by a chronic illness which proved fatal.Klafsky was born at Szent-János, Wieselburg, of humble parents...
and her husband Otto Lohse
Otto Lohse
Otto Lohse was a German conductor and composer.Born in Dresden, Lohse studied with Hans Richter and Felix Draeseke at the Dresden Conservatory. In 1882 he became conductor of two music societies in Riga, the Wagner Society and the Imperial Russian Music Society; seven year's later he became the...
also joined the company, but returned to Europe after the season's end. 1896 saw the premiere of Damrosch's own opera after The Scarlet Letter
The Scarlet Letter (opera)
The Scarlet Letter is an opera by Walter Damrosch, based on Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel of the same name. The libretto was by George Parsons Lathrop, son-in-law of the author. The work is Wagnerian in style, Damrosch being a great enthusiast and champion of the composer...
. With the following season came a change of name and focus for the company; becoming the Damrosch-Ellis Company, it expanded its horizons to include both Italian
Italian opera
Italian opera is both the art of opera in Italy and opera in the Italian language. Opera was born in Italy around the year 1600 and Italian opera has continued to play a dominant role in the history of the form until the present day. Many famous operas in Italian were written by foreign composers,...
and French opera
French Opera
French opera is one of Europe's most important operatic traditions, containing works by composers of the stature of Rameau, Berlioz, Bizet, Debussy, Poulenc and Olivier Messiaen...
in addition to German. Nellie Melba
Nellie Melba
Dame Nellie Melba GBE , born Helen "Nellie" Porter Mitchell, was an Australian operatic soprano. She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian Era and the early 20th century...
and Emma Calvé
Emma Calvé
Emma Calvé, born Rosa Emma Calvet , was a French operatic soprano.Calvé was probably the most famous French female opera singer of the Belle Époque. Hers was an international career, and she sang regularly and to considerable acclaim at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, and the Royal Opera...
both joined the company at this time. But deficits had begun to accumulate after the second season, and mounted rapidly; these forced the company to close for good in 1900.