Walter Taussig
Encyclopedia
Walter Taussig, was an Austria
n conductor. He was born in Vienna
, and died in New York, New York.
A member of the music staff at the Metropolitan Opera
since 1949, Taussig was the company's associate conductor at the time of his death. Taussig was a 1928 graduate of the Music Academy in Vienna, where he studied composition with Franz Schmidt
and conducting with Robert Heger
. The political climate of Europe in the late 1930s caused Taussig to emigrate to the United States
, by way of Havana
(where he conducted the Havana Philharmonic).
The conductor worked at the Chicago Opera, the Montreal Opera and San Francisco Opera
before being hired by the Met as its assistant chorus master. He established himself as an invaluable coach, especially in German repertoire, serving as mentor to several generations of Met singers, from Birgit Nilsson
, who called him "the father" of her Elektra
, to Plácido Domingo
, who coached the role of Parsifal
with him, and Deborah Voigt
. His principal conducting credits with the Met numbered fewer than a dozen performances - among them La Traviata
on the company's 1975 tour of Japan
- but in Der Rosenkavalier
and in other operas, Taussig was a frequent leader of the Met's offstage instrumentalists, nicknamed "The Taussig Philharmonic" by James Levine
.
Taussig was also a coach for Deutsche Grammophon
recordings and, beginning in 1964, enjoyed an eighteen-year association with the Salzburg Festival
as an assistant conductor and coach.
Ira Siff wrote a wonderful interview with Maestro Taussig entitled "The Associate" in the April 2001 issue of Opera News.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n conductor. He was born in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, and died in New York, New York.
A member of the music staff at 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...
since 1949, Taussig was the company's associate conductor at the time of his death. Taussig was a 1928 graduate of the Music Academy in Vienna, where he studied composition with Franz Schmidt
Franz Schmidt
Franz Schmidt was an Austrian composer, cellist and pianist of Hungarian descent and origin.- Life :Schmidt was born in Pozsony , in the Hungarian part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire . His father was half Hungarian and his mother entirely Hungarian...
and conducting with Robert Heger
Robert Heger
Robert Heger was a German conductor and composer from Strasbourg, Alsace-Lorraine.He studied at the Conservatory of Strasbourg, under Franz Stockhausen, then in Zurich under Lothar Kempter, and finally in Munich under Max von Schillings. After early conducting engagements in Strasbourg he made his...
. The political climate of Europe in the late 1930s caused Taussig to emigrate to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, by way of Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
(where he conducted the Havana Philharmonic).
The conductor worked at the Chicago Opera, the Montreal Opera and San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera is an American opera company, based in San Francisco, California.It was founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola and is the second largest opera company in North America...
before being hired by the Met as its assistant chorus master. He established himself as an invaluable coach, especially in German repertoire, serving as mentor to several generations of Met singers, from Birgit Nilsson
Birgit Nilsson
right|thumb|Nilsson in 1948.Birgit Nilsson was a celebrated Swedish dramatic soprano who specialized in operatic and symphonic works...
, who called him "the father" of her Elektra
Elektra (opera)
Elektra is a one-act opera by Richard Strauss, to a German-language libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, which he adapted from his 1903 drama Elektra. The opera was the first of many collaborations between Strauss and Hofmannsthal...
, to Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
, who coached the role of Parsifal
Parsifal
Parsifal is an opera in three acts by Richard Wagner. It is loosely based on Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival, the 13th century epic poem of the Arthurian knight Parzival and his quest for the Holy Grail, and on Chrétien de Troyes' Perceval, the Story of the Grail.Wagner first conceived the work...
with him, and Deborah Voigt
Deborah Voigt
Deborah Voigt is an American operatic soprano. Voigt regularly performs in opera houses and concert halls worldwide.- Early life and education :...
. His principal conducting credits with the Met numbered fewer than a dozen performances - among them La Traviata
La traviata
La traviata is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It is based on La dame aux Camélias , a play adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, fils. The title La traviata means literally The Fallen Woman, or perhaps more figuratively, The Woman...
on the company's 1975 tour of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
- but in Der Rosenkavalier
Der Rosenkavalier
Der Rosenkavalier is a comic opera in three acts by Richard Strauss to an original German libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. It is loosely adapted from the novel Les amours du chevalier de Faublas by Louvet de Couvrai and Molière’s comedy Monsieur de Pourceaugnac...
and in other operas, Taussig was a frequent leader of the Met's offstage instrumentalists, nicknamed "The Taussig Philharmonic" by James Levine
James Levine
James Lawrence Levine is an American conductor and pianist. He is currently the music director of the Metropolitan Opera and former music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Levine's first performance conducting the Metropolitan Opera was on June 5, 1971, and as of May 2011 he has...
.
Taussig was also a coach for Deutsche Grammophon
Deutsche Grammophon
Deutsche Grammophon is a German classical record label which was the foundation of the future corporation to be known as PolyGram. It is now part of Universal Music Group since its acquisition and absorption of PolyGram in 1999, and it is also UMG's oldest active label...
recordings and, beginning in 1964, enjoyed an eighteen-year association with the Salzburg Festival
Salzburg Festival
The Salzburg Festival is a prominent festival of music and drama established in 1920. It is held each summer within the Austrian town of Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart...
as an assistant conductor and coach.
Ira Siff wrote a wonderful interview with Maestro Taussig entitled "The Associate" in the April 2001 issue of Opera News.