Berger, Rudolf

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Berger, Rudolf

Berger, Rudolf, Czech baritone and tenor; b. Brünn, April 17, 1874; d. N.Y., Feb. 27, 1915. He was a pupil of Adolf Robinson in Brünn. In 1896 he made his debut as a baritone in Brünn, and then sang at the Berlin Royal Opera (from 1898) and at the Bayreuth Festivals (1901–08). He also made guest appearances in Vienna, London (Covent Garden), Paris, and Prague. After further studies with Oscar Saenger in N.Y., he concentrated on Heldentenor roles from 1909. On Feb. 5, 1914, he made his Metropolitan Opera debut in N.Y. as Siegmund, and remained on its roster until his death. In 1913 he married Marie Rappold.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire