Tauber, Richard |
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BORN 16 May 1891, Linz, Oberösterreich - DIED 8 Jan 1948, London BIRTH NAME Denemy, Richard GRAVE LOCATION London: Brompton Cemetery, Old Brompton Road, West Brompton (1E) |
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Richard Tauber was the son of actor Richard Anton Tauber and actress Elisabeth Seiffert-Denemy (b.1847). His father wasn't married to his mother and he didn't even know his son was born because he was on tour in the USA. In 1897 he was sent to Linz and his father took care of his education. He followed his father to Prague and Wiesbaden (1903). He studied piano and composition in Frankfurt am Main, but he he really wanted to be a singer. In 1912 he debuted in Freiburg and in 1913 he appeared in Chemnitz in "Die Zauberflöte" by Mozart. The Dresden Opera contracted him for five years and he sang many parts, learning them quickly. In 1922 he moved to the Vienna State Opera and soon he was employed by the Berlin State Opera as well. In 1924 he was very successful at the Theater an der Wien, where he sang operetta. Tauber was especially successful in operettas by Franz Lehŕr. At the Theater an der Wien he met the soprano Carlotta Vancotti. He married her, but they seperated in 1928 and divorced in 1930. He lived for several years with singer Mary Loseff (1907-1972) and he supported her in later years when alcoholism had ended her career. In 1931 he debuted in London and he returned there frequently. In 1933 the Jewish Tauber he left Germany after he was assaulted by nazis and returned to Austria. He married the actress Diana Napier in 1936. In 1938 he travelled to Australia, where his voice as well as Diana's spectacular fur coat attracted huge attention. On his return he settled in England since the Germans had come to power in Austria. He had made many recordings before the war, but he had lost all his money when he left Austria and started recording again in England. Although he suffered from severe arthritis he continued to sing. In 1946 he sang in New York in "Yours is my Heart", an adaptation from Lehŕr's "Land of Smiles". In 1947 it became clear that he had lung cancer. On September 27th, 1947 he was able to sing Don Ottavio in "Don Giovanni" by Mozart, but a few months later he died in London, leaving behind an anormous pile of debts. He was buried at Brompton Cemetery. Related persons • performed with Achsel, Wanda • cooperated with Lehár, Franz Events |
| 21/2/1927 | First performance of Franz Lehár's operetta "Der Zarewitsch" in Berlin. The performance took place at the Deutsches Künstlertheater. [Lehár, Franz] |
| 30/6/1938 | Richard Tauber's first concert in Australia at Melbourne Town Hall |
| Images | |
 Richard Tauber's name is mentioned at the tomb of his nephew Max Tauber at the cemetery in Bad Ischl. Richard was buried at Brompton Cemetery in London. Picture by Androom (24 Aug 2003) |
 The grave of Richard Tauber at Brompton Cemetery, London. His name is also mentioned on the tomb of his nephew Max at Bad Ischl, Austria. Picture by Androom (27 May 2004) |
Sources • Culbertson, Judi & Tom Randall, Permanent Londoners, Robson Books, London, 1991 • Encyclopedie van de Muziek, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1959 • Greenwood, Peter, Who's buried where in England, Constable, London, 1982 • Richard Tauber - Wikipedia (EN) |
