Walter Damrosch (1862 - 1950)

Born January 30, 1862, in Breslau, Germany (now Poland), Damrosch emigrated
to the United States in 1871. He was the son of the early Metropolitan Opera conductor Leopold Damrosch (1832-1885) and brother of eminent conductor Frank Damrosch (q.v.). Walter Damrosch became an important figure in turn-of-the-century New York's musical life. He soon held prominent positions such as assistant conductor at the Met (1885-1891), New York Oratorio Society music director (1885-1898), and that of the New York Symphony Society (1885-1903). He was greatly admired as a music educator, and as a champion for American composers. As a composer, he made some significant contributions to American music, including five operas:

The Scarlet Letter, opera in 3 acts (Feb. 10, 1896, Boston)
The Dove of Peace, comic opera in 3 acts (Oct. 15, 1912, Philadelphia)
Cyrano de Bergerac, opera in 4 acts (Feb. 27, 1913, NY Met)
The Man without a Country, opera in 2 acts (May 12, 1937, NY Met)
The Opera Cloak, opera in 1 act (Nov. 3, 1942, NY Opera Co.)

He also composed various other works, including a violin sonata and many songs.
Damrosch died December 22, 1950 in New York.