RUDOLPH BERGER, OPERA TENOR, DEAD - Metropolitan Artist Dies Suddenly After Examination by Gatti-Casazza's Physician – His Heart was Inflamed – Case Wrongly Diagnosed by Austrian Army Doctors – Husband of Marie Rappold – His Career.
Rudolph Berger, the Austrian tenor who sang Wagnerian roles at the Metropolitan Opera House, died suddenly early last night in his apartment at 251 West Eighty-ninth Street a few minutes after he had told General Manager Gatti-Casazza of the Metropolitan that he felt almost recovered from the effects of illness that had kept him off the stage for a week, and that he expected to get out of the house for exercise today.
Mr. Berger sang for the last time at the performance of "Gotterdammerung" in the special "ring" matinee series one week ago last Thursday. On that occasion he was suffering severely from internal pains, and it was necessary to give him stimulants after each act. Last Wednesday evening he was scheduled to sing Sigmund in "Die Walkure," but could not appear, and Johannes Sembach was put in his place. It was then said he was suffering from muscular rheumatism, the same complaint which was diagnosed when he was retired from the Austrian Army after doing light service for a few weeks at the beginning of the war.
Friday evening Marie Rappold, the Metropolitan soprano, who is Mrs. Berger in private life, telephoned Mr. Gatti-Casazza that it would be impossible for her husband to appear at the Metropolitan Sunday night concert tonight, for which he was scheduled. At the same time she suggested to the general manager, who said he was anxious as to how Berger's illness would affect his schedules of operas for the next few weeks, to come to their home with his own doctor and examine the patient. He replied that he would do so.
He made an appointment with his physician, Dr. Julius Frankel, for 6 o'clock last night, and, together with Otto Weil of the business staff, went to the tenor's home. They found the singer in bed, apparently very cheerful. Both he and Mrs. Berger assured the director that his condition was very much better and that they hoped he would be able to leave his bed in the morning.
Dr. Frankel told him if he felt that way to get up and try a few steps, which the singer did, with some difficulty. Then the physician began to sound his lungs and heart. As he did so the opera house people saw a serious look come over his face. Dr. Frankel quickly made out a prescription and told Otto Weil to go himself and have it filled with the least possible delay.
The exchange of a few words followed. In the midst of them the tenor suddenly clasped his breast with both hands. Then he relaxed, and the next moment he was dead. His wife, who was in the room with Mr. Gatti-Casazza and the physician, recognized the truth immediately and became hysterical. Dr. Frankel said the patient had been suffering from a bad case of inflammation of the heart. According to his verdict, the Austrian army doctors had made a wrong diagnosis of muscular rheumatism when he was released from military service.
Rudolph Berger was about 40 years old. His music studies were begun at Brunn, Austria, under the same teacher who taught Leo Slezak, the tenor. He was turned out as a baritone and sang the principal baritone roles in the Berlin Royal Opera Company, and was heard there by Oscar Sanger, an American teacher, who told him his voice was properly a tenor. Mr. Berger came here in the Spring of 1909 to study with this teacher, and several Summers following, during which time he returned to the Berlin company to sing the leading tenor roles.
He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera House as Siegmund in "Die Walkuere" on Feb. 5, 1914. He had been married during the season before this to Marie Rappold. At his debut, aside from any question of his singing, he attracted considerable attention by wearing a wig with what may be described as a "Psyche knot." In the controversy which resulted he defended himself by saying the old Teutonic warriors wore their hair that way, as he had found be reference to paintings and historical writings.
This season he made his first appearance again as Siegmund on Feb. 4. He next sang in the performance of "Gotterdammerung" of a week ago Thursday, during which his illness first became known to the public. Several weeks ago he received notification that he had been promoted in the Austrian Army from the rank of Second to First Lieutenant.
The coincidence was noted last night in the opera house that Berger's death came one year and a day later than that of Putnam Griswold, the American bass.
~ The New York Times, 28 Feb 1915
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RUDOLPH BERGER'S FUNERAL
Many Metropolitan Opera People at Church of the Messiah.
The Church of the Messiah was thronged yesterday morning for the funeral services of Rudolph Berger, the Austrian tenor of the Metropolitan Opera Company, who died suddenly last Saturday evening. There was a large representation of singers and officials from the Metropolitan Opera House.
The Rev. Merle St. Croix Wright gave the address and conducted the service, as he did at the time of the death of Anton Seidl. During his remarks he said the tenor had been "a member of the fraternity of art, than which there is none better." During the service Paul Althouse of the Metropolitan Opera Company sang "Be Thou Faithful." Harry Rowe Shelley was at the organ.
The pallbearers were Messrs. Sembach, Weil, Braun, Leonhardt, Schlegel, and Herschman, friends and fellow-artists of Mr. Berger.
Among those from the Metropolitan Opera House present were Mmes. Alda, Kurt, Schumann and Mrs. Otto Weil, and Messrs. Otto Kahn, Gatti-Casazza, Toscanini, Amato, Polacco, Otto Weil, Lomis Taylor, Leon Rothier, William J. Guard, Alfred Hertz, Theodore Siedl, Riccardo Martin, Adamo Didur, Alfred Seligsberg, Andrea de Segurola, Herbert Witherspoon, John Brown, Albert Reiss, Luca Botta, and Lionel Mapleson.
There were also present many members of the orchestra and the German chorus. Over the casket was draped the cloak which the singer wore in his first appearance as Lohengrin.
The body was taken to the Fresh Pond Crematory.
~ The New York Times, Weds., 3 Mar 1915
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contributed by Ann M. Martin:
His body was cremated on March 2, 1915.
Rudolph Berger, the Austrian tenor who sang Wagnerian roles at the Metropolitan Opera House, died suddenly early last night in his apartment at 251 West Eighty-ninth Street a few minutes after he had told General Manager Gatti-Casazza of the Metropolitan that he felt almost recovered from the effects of illness that had kept him off the stage for a week, and that he expected to get out of the house for exercise today.
Mr. Berger sang for the last time at the performance of "Gotterdammerung" in the special "ring" matinee series one week ago last Thursday. On that occasion he was suffering severely from internal pains, and it was necessary to give him stimulants after each act. Last Wednesday evening he was scheduled to sing Sigmund in "Die Walkure," but could not appear, and Johannes Sembach was put in his place. It was then said he was suffering from muscular rheumatism, the same complaint which was diagnosed when he was retired from the Austrian Army after doing light service for a few weeks at the beginning of the war.
Friday evening Marie Rappold, the Metropolitan soprano, who is Mrs. Berger in private life, telephoned Mr. Gatti-Casazza that it would be impossible for her husband to appear at the Metropolitan Sunday night concert tonight, for which he was scheduled. At the same time she suggested to the general manager, who said he was anxious as to how Berger's illness would affect his schedules of operas for the next few weeks, to come to their home with his own doctor and examine the patient. He replied that he would do so.
He made an appointment with his physician, Dr. Julius Frankel, for 6 o'clock last night, and, together with Otto Weil of the business staff, went to the tenor's home. They found the singer in bed, apparently very cheerful. Both he and Mrs. Berger assured the director that his condition was very much better and that they hoped he would be able to leave his bed in the morning.
Dr. Frankel told him if he felt that way to get up and try a few steps, which the singer did, with some difficulty. Then the physician began to sound his lungs and heart. As he did so the opera house people saw a serious look come over his face. Dr. Frankel quickly made out a prescription and told Otto Weil to go himself and have it filled with the least possible delay.
The exchange of a few words followed. In the midst of them the tenor suddenly clasped his breast with both hands. Then he relaxed, and the next moment he was dead. His wife, who was in the room with Mr. Gatti-Casazza and the physician, recognized the truth immediately and became hysterical. Dr. Frankel said the patient had been suffering from a bad case of inflammation of the heart. According to his verdict, the Austrian army doctors had made a wrong diagnosis of muscular rheumatism when he was released from military service.
Rudolph Berger was about 40 years old. His music studies were begun at Brunn, Austria, under the same teacher who taught Leo Slezak, the tenor. He was turned out as a baritone and sang the principal baritone roles in the Berlin Royal Opera Company, and was heard there by Oscar Sanger, an American teacher, who told him his voice was properly a tenor. Mr. Berger came here in the Spring of 1909 to study with this teacher, and several Summers following, during which time he returned to the Berlin company to sing the leading tenor roles.
He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera House as Siegmund in "Die Walkuere" on Feb. 5, 1914. He had been married during the season before this to Marie Rappold. At his debut, aside from any question of his singing, he attracted considerable attention by wearing a wig with what may be described as a "Psyche knot." In the controversy which resulted he defended himself by saying the old Teutonic warriors wore their hair that way, as he had found be reference to paintings and historical writings.
This season he made his first appearance again as Siegmund on Feb. 4. He next sang in the performance of "Gotterdammerung" of a week ago Thursday, during which his illness first became known to the public. Several weeks ago he received notification that he had been promoted in the Austrian Army from the rank of Second to First Lieutenant.
The coincidence was noted last night in the opera house that Berger's death came one year and a day later than that of Putnam Griswold, the American bass.
~ The New York Times, 28 Feb 1915
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RUDOLPH BERGER'S FUNERAL
Many Metropolitan Opera People at Church of the Messiah.
The Church of the Messiah was thronged yesterday morning for the funeral services of Rudolph Berger, the Austrian tenor of the Metropolitan Opera Company, who died suddenly last Saturday evening. There was a large representation of singers and officials from the Metropolitan Opera House.
The Rev. Merle St. Croix Wright gave the address and conducted the service, as he did at the time of the death of Anton Seidl. During his remarks he said the tenor had been "a member of the fraternity of art, than which there is none better." During the service Paul Althouse of the Metropolitan Opera Company sang "Be Thou Faithful." Harry Rowe Shelley was at the organ.
The pallbearers were Messrs. Sembach, Weil, Braun, Leonhardt, Schlegel, and Herschman, friends and fellow-artists of Mr. Berger.
Among those from the Metropolitan Opera House present were Mmes. Alda, Kurt, Schumann and Mrs. Otto Weil, and Messrs. Otto Kahn, Gatti-Casazza, Toscanini, Amato, Polacco, Otto Weil, Lomis Taylor, Leon Rothier, William J. Guard, Alfred Hertz, Theodore Siedl, Riccardo Martin, Adamo Didur, Alfred Seligsberg, Andrea de Segurola, Herbert Witherspoon, John Brown, Albert Reiss, Luca Botta, and Lionel Mapleson.
There were also present many members of the orchestra and the German chorus. Over the casket was draped the cloak which the singer wore in his first appearance as Lohengrin.
The body was taken to the Fresh Pond Crematory.
~ The New York Times, Weds., 3 Mar 1915
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contributed by Ann M. Martin:
His body was cremated on March 2, 1915.
RUDOLPH BERGER, OPERA TENOR, DEAD - Metropolitan Artist Dies Suddenly After Examination by Gatti-Casazza's Physician – His Heart was Inflamed – Case Wrongly Diagnosed by Austrian Army Doctors – Husband of Marie Rappold – His Career.
Rudolph Berger, the Austrian tenor who sang Wagnerian roles at the Metropolitan Opera House, died suddenly early last night in his apartment at 251 West Eighty-ninth Street a few minutes after he had told General Manager Gatti-Casazza of the Metropolitan that he felt almost recovered from the effects of illness that had kept him off the stage for a week, and that he expected to get out of the house for exercise today.
Mr. Berger sang for the last time at the performance of "Gotterdammerung" in the special "ring" matinee series one week ago last Thursday. On that occasion he was suffering severely from internal pains, and it was necessary to give him stimulants after each act. Last Wednesday evening he was scheduled to sing Sigmund in "Die Walkure," but could not appear, and Johannes Sembach was put in his place. It was then said he was suffering from muscular rheumatism, the same complaint which was diagnosed when he was retired from the Austrian Army after doing light service for a few weeks at the beginning of the war.
Friday evening Marie Rappold, the Metropolitan soprano, who is Mrs. Berger in private life, telephoned Mr. Gatti-Casazza that it would be impossible for her husband to appear at the Metropolitan Sunday night concert tonight, for which he was scheduled. At the same time she suggested to the general manager, who said he was anxious as to how Berger's illness would affect his schedules of operas for the next few weeks, to come to their home with his own doctor and examine the patient. He replied that he would do so.
He made an appointment with his physician, Dr. Julius Frankel, for 6 o'clock last night, and, together with Otto Weil of the business staff, went to the tenor's home. They found the singer in bed, apparently very cheerful. Both he and Mrs. Berger assured the director that his condition was very much better and that they hoped he would be able to leave his bed in the morning.
Dr. Frankel told him if he felt that way to get up and try a few steps, which the singer did, with some difficulty. Then the physician began to sound his lungs and heart. As he did so the opera house people saw a serious look come over his face. Dr. Frankel quickly made out a prescription and told Otto Weil to go himself and have it filled with the least possible delay.
The exchange of a few words followed. In the midst of them the tenor suddenly clasped his breast with both hands. Then he relaxed, and the next moment he was dead. His wife, who was in the room with Mr. Gatti-Casazza and the physician, recognized the truth immediately and became hysterical. Dr. Frankel said the patient had been suffering from a bad case of inflammation of the heart. According to his verdict, the Austrian army doctors had made a wrong diagnosis of muscular rheumatism when he was released from military service.
Rudolph Berger was about 40 years old. His music studies were begun at Brunn, Austria, under the same teacher who taught Leo Slezak, the tenor. He was turned out as a baritone and sang the principal baritone roles in the Berlin Royal Opera Company, and was heard there by Oscar Sanger, an American teacher, who told him his voice was properly a tenor. Mr. Berger came here in the Spring of 1909 to study with this teacher, and several Summers following, during which time he returned to the Berlin company to sing the leading tenor roles.
He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera House as Siegmund in "Die Walkuere" on Feb. 5, 1914. He had been married during the season before this to Marie Rappold. At his debut, aside from any question of his singing, he attracted considerable attention by wearing a wig with what may be described as a "Psyche knot." In the controversy which resulted he defended himself by saying the old Teutonic warriors wore their hair that way, as he had found be reference to paintings and historical writings.
This season he made his first appearance again as Siegmund on Feb. 4. He next sang in the performance of "Gotterdammerung" of a week ago Thursday, during which his illness first became known to the public. Several weeks ago he received notification that he had been promoted in the Austrian Army from the rank of Second to First Lieutenant.
The coincidence was noted last night in the opera house that Berger's death came one year and a day later than that of Putnam Griswold, the American bass.
~ The New York Times, 28 Feb 1915
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RUDOLPH BERGER'S FUNERAL
Many Metropolitan Opera People at Church of the Messiah.
The Church of the Messiah was thronged yesterday morning for the funeral services of Rudolph Berger, the Austrian tenor of the Metropolitan Opera Company, who died suddenly last Saturday evening. There was a large representation of singers and officials from the Metropolitan Opera House.
The Rev. Merle St. Croix Wright gave the address and conducted the service, as he did at the time of the death of Anton Seidl. During his remarks he said the tenor had been "a member of the fraternity of art, than which there is none better." During the service Paul Althouse of the Metropolitan Opera Company sang "Be Thou Faithful." Harry Rowe Shelley was at the organ.
The pallbearers were Messrs. Sembach, Weil, Braun, Leonhardt, Schlegel, and Herschman, friends and fellow-artists of Mr. Berger.
Among those from the Metropolitan Opera House present were Mmes. Alda, Kurt, Schumann and Mrs. Otto Weil, and Messrs. Otto Kahn, Gatti-Casazza, Toscanini, Amato, Polacco, Otto Weil, Lomis Taylor, Leon Rothier, William J. Guard, Alfred Hertz, Theodore Siedl, Riccardo Martin, Adamo Didur, Alfred Seligsberg, Andrea de Segurola, Herbert Witherspoon, John Brown, Albert Reiss, Luca Botta, and Lionel Mapleson.
There were also present many members of the orchestra and the German chorus. Over the casket was draped the cloak which the singer wore in his first appearance as Lohengrin.
The body was taken to the Fresh Pond Crematory.
~ The New York Times, Weds., 3 Mar 1915
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contributed by Ann M. Martin:
His body was cremated on March 2, 1915.
Rudolph Berger, the Austrian tenor who sang Wagnerian roles at the Metropolitan Opera House, died suddenly early last night in his apartment at 251 West Eighty-ninth Street a few minutes after he had told General Manager Gatti-Casazza of the Metropolitan that he felt almost recovered from the effects of illness that had kept him off the stage for a week, and that he expected to get out of the house for exercise today.
Mr. Berger sang for the last time at the performance of "Gotterdammerung" in the special "ring" matinee series one week ago last Thursday. On that occasion he was suffering severely from internal pains, and it was necessary to give him stimulants after each act. Last Wednesday evening he was scheduled to sing Sigmund in "Die Walkure," but could not appear, and Johannes Sembach was put in his place. It was then said he was suffering from muscular rheumatism, the same complaint which was diagnosed when he was retired from the Austrian Army after doing light service for a few weeks at the beginning of the war.
Friday evening Marie Rappold, the Metropolitan soprano, who is Mrs. Berger in private life, telephoned Mr. Gatti-Casazza that it would be impossible for her husband to appear at the Metropolitan Sunday night concert tonight, for which he was scheduled. At the same time she suggested to the general manager, who said he was anxious as to how Berger's illness would affect his schedules of operas for the next few weeks, to come to their home with his own doctor and examine the patient. He replied that he would do so.
He made an appointment with his physician, Dr. Julius Frankel, for 6 o'clock last night, and, together with Otto Weil of the business staff, went to the tenor's home. They found the singer in bed, apparently very cheerful. Both he and Mrs. Berger assured the director that his condition was very much better and that they hoped he would be able to leave his bed in the morning.
Dr. Frankel told him if he felt that way to get up and try a few steps, which the singer did, with some difficulty. Then the physician began to sound his lungs and heart. As he did so the opera house people saw a serious look come over his face. Dr. Frankel quickly made out a prescription and told Otto Weil to go himself and have it filled with the least possible delay.
The exchange of a few words followed. In the midst of them the tenor suddenly clasped his breast with both hands. Then he relaxed, and the next moment he was dead. His wife, who was in the room with Mr. Gatti-Casazza and the physician, recognized the truth immediately and became hysterical. Dr. Frankel said the patient had been suffering from a bad case of inflammation of the heart. According to his verdict, the Austrian army doctors had made a wrong diagnosis of muscular rheumatism when he was released from military service.
Rudolph Berger was about 40 years old. His music studies were begun at Brunn, Austria, under the same teacher who taught Leo Slezak, the tenor. He was turned out as a baritone and sang the principal baritone roles in the Berlin Royal Opera Company, and was heard there by Oscar Sanger, an American teacher, who told him his voice was properly a tenor. Mr. Berger came here in the Spring of 1909 to study with this teacher, and several Summers following, during which time he returned to the Berlin company to sing the leading tenor roles.
He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera House as Siegmund in "Die Walkuere" on Feb. 5, 1914. He had been married during the season before this to Marie Rappold. At his debut, aside from any question of his singing, he attracted considerable attention by wearing a wig with what may be described as a "Psyche knot." In the controversy which resulted he defended himself by saying the old Teutonic warriors wore their hair that way, as he had found be reference to paintings and historical writings.
This season he made his first appearance again as Siegmund on Feb. 4. He next sang in the performance of "Gotterdammerung" of a week ago Thursday, during which his illness first became known to the public. Several weeks ago he received notification that he had been promoted in the Austrian Army from the rank of Second to First Lieutenant.
The coincidence was noted last night in the opera house that Berger's death came one year and a day later than that of Putnam Griswold, the American bass.
~ The New York Times, 28 Feb 1915
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RUDOLPH BERGER'S FUNERAL
Many Metropolitan Opera People at Church of the Messiah.
The Church of the Messiah was thronged yesterday morning for the funeral services of Rudolph Berger, the Austrian tenor of the Metropolitan Opera Company, who died suddenly last Saturday evening. There was a large representation of singers and officials from the Metropolitan Opera House.
The Rev. Merle St. Croix Wright gave the address and conducted the service, as he did at the time of the death of Anton Seidl. During his remarks he said the tenor had been "a member of the fraternity of art, than which there is none better." During the service Paul Althouse of the Metropolitan Opera Company sang "Be Thou Faithful." Harry Rowe Shelley was at the organ.
The pallbearers were Messrs. Sembach, Weil, Braun, Leonhardt, Schlegel, and Herschman, friends and fellow-artists of Mr. Berger.
Among those from the Metropolitan Opera House present were Mmes. Alda, Kurt, Schumann and Mrs. Otto Weil, and Messrs. Otto Kahn, Gatti-Casazza, Toscanini, Amato, Polacco, Otto Weil, Lomis Taylor, Leon Rothier, William J. Guard, Alfred Hertz, Theodore Siedl, Riccardo Martin, Adamo Didur, Alfred Seligsberg, Andrea de Segurola, Herbert Witherspoon, John Brown, Albert Reiss, Luca Botta, and Lionel Mapleson.
There were also present many members of the orchestra and the German chorus. Over the casket was draped the cloak which the singer wore in his first appearance as Lohengrin.
The body was taken to the Fresh Pond Crematory.
~ The New York Times, Weds., 3 Mar 1915
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contributed by Ann M. Martin:
His body was cremated on March 2, 1915.
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