Richard Tauber
German postcard by Ross Verlag, no. 4877/1, 1929-1930. Photo: Atelier Ernst Schneider, Berlin / Tauber Tonfilm G.m.b.H.
Austrian opera singer Richard Tauber (1891-1948) was one of the world's finest Mozartian tenors of the 20th century. Some critics commented that "his heart felt every word he sang". He also tested the then-new talking pictures in such popular musical films as Ich küsse Ihre Hand, Madame (1929) with Marlene Dietrich, Das Land des Lächelns (1930) and Melodie der Liebe (1932).
Richard Tauber was the illegitimate son of soubrette Elisabeth Seiffert and actor Richard Anton Tauber. In 1913 he made his stage debut in Mozart's 'The Magic Flute' and he worked up a rich repertoire of roles in such operas as 'Don Giovanni', 'Tosca', and 'Carmen'. Franz Lehár composed several new operettas specifically designed for Tauber's voice, including 'Der Zarewitsch' (1926), 'Friederike' (1928) and 'Das Land des Lächelns' (1929). He made over seven hundred gramophone records, mainly for the Odeon Records label. He also tested the then new talking pictures in such popular musical films as Ich küsse Ihre Hand, Madame (Robert Land, 1929) with Marlene Dietrich, Das Land des Lächelns (Max Reichmann, 1930) and Melodie der Liebe (Georg Jacoby, 1932). He was elegant in appearance. He had a slight squint in his right eye and disguised it by wearing a monocle which, when accompanied by a top hat, added to the elegant effect. For many people he became the epitome of Viennese charm.
In 1933, Richard Tauber was assaulted by a group of Nazi Brownshirts because of his Jewish ancestry, and he decided to leave Germany for his native Austria. Eventually he emigrated to London and appeared in some British musical films. He earned fine notices for his portrayal of composer Franz Schubert in Blossom Time (Paul L. Stein, 1934), as well as for his work in Heart's Desire (Paul L. Stein, 1935), and Land Without Music (Walter Forde, 1936). He married his British co-star Diana Napier. In 1947, Tauber sought help for an aggravated cough which was subsequently diagnosed as lung cancer. He gave a bravura performance as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni at Covent Garden and fulfilled this engagement the following day at the Camden Theatre, having begun and ended his formidable career performing Mozart. He died in January 1948. In the musical bio Du bist die Welt für mich (Ernst Marischka, 1953) Rudolf Schock acted and sang the role of Tauber.
Sources: Wikipedia and IMDb.
And, please check out our blog European Film Star Postcards.
Richard Tauber
German postcard by Ross Verlag, no. 4877/1, 1929-1930. Photo: Atelier Ernst Schneider, Berlin / Tauber Tonfilm G.m.b.H.
Austrian opera singer Richard Tauber (1891-1948) was one of the world's finest Mozartian tenors of the 20th century. Some critics commented that "his heart felt every word he sang". He also tested the then-new talking pictures in such popular musical films as Ich küsse Ihre Hand, Madame (1929) with Marlene Dietrich, Das Land des Lächelns (1930) and Melodie der Liebe (1932).
Richard Tauber was the illegitimate son of soubrette Elisabeth Seiffert and actor Richard Anton Tauber. In 1913 he made his stage debut in Mozart's 'The Magic Flute' and he worked up a rich repertoire of roles in such operas as 'Don Giovanni', 'Tosca', and 'Carmen'. Franz Lehár composed several new operettas specifically designed for Tauber's voice, including 'Der Zarewitsch' (1926), 'Friederike' (1928) and 'Das Land des Lächelns' (1929). He made over seven hundred gramophone records, mainly for the Odeon Records label. He also tested the then new talking pictures in such popular musical films as Ich küsse Ihre Hand, Madame (Robert Land, 1929) with Marlene Dietrich, Das Land des Lächelns (Max Reichmann, 1930) and Melodie der Liebe (Georg Jacoby, 1932). He was elegant in appearance. He had a slight squint in his right eye and disguised it by wearing a monocle which, when accompanied by a top hat, added to the elegant effect. For many people he became the epitome of Viennese charm.
In 1933, Richard Tauber was assaulted by a group of Nazi Brownshirts because of his Jewish ancestry, and he decided to leave Germany for his native Austria. Eventually he emigrated to London and appeared in some British musical films. He earned fine notices for his portrayal of composer Franz Schubert in Blossom Time (Paul L. Stein, 1934), as well as for his work in Heart's Desire (Paul L. Stein, 1935), and Land Without Music (Walter Forde, 1936). He married his British co-star Diana Napier. In 1947, Tauber sought help for an aggravated cough which was subsequently diagnosed as lung cancer. He gave a bravura performance as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni at Covent Garden and fulfilled this engagement the following day at the Camden Theatre, having begun and ended his formidable career performing Mozart. He died in January 1948. In the musical bio Du bist die Welt für mich (Ernst Marischka, 1953) Rudolf Schock acted and sang the role of Tauber.
Sources: Wikipedia and IMDb.
And, please check out our blog European Film Star Postcards.