Forgotten Musicals - Sigmund Romberg and The New Moon
Sigmund Romberg (1887 – 1951) was a Hungarian-born American composer renowned for his romantic operettas and musicals that bridged European traditions with Broadway’s golden age.
Born in Nagykanizsa, Hungary to a Jewish family, Romberg showed early musical talent on piano and violin. His parents, however, steered him toward a practical career; he studied engineering in Vienna. In 1909, at age 22, he emigrated to the United States, settling in New York.
Romberg’s breakthrough came in 1917 with Maytime, a highly successful adaptation inspired by Franz Schubert. He went on to create a string of hits in the 1920s, often in a lush, melodic style. His most enduring works include The Student Prince and The Desert Song
These operettas emphasized sweeping melodies, emotional duets, and choral pieces, providing escapism through romance, adventure, and nostalgia. While some of his other shows leaned more toward American musical comedy styles, his core output helped popularize light operetta on Broadway and influenced later composers. Several of his works were adapted into successful films.
Romberg remained active in theatre and even composed for films until his later years. He married Lillian Harris in 1925; they had no children. He died of a stroke in New York City at age 64.
The New Moon written in 1928 is a swashbuckling story of love and revolution in 18th-century New Orleans/Louisiana, featuring classics such as “Lover, Come Back to Me,” “Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise,” and “Stouthearted Men.”
Although The Student Prince and The Desert Song get occasional revivals, The New Moon seems to have dropped out of the repertoire.
From the Sigmund Romberg biopic ‘Deep in My Heart’ the great Helen Traubel sings ‘Softly, As In a Morning Sunrise’.
[media=https://youtu.be/AhrzjSSCzKM?si=Y-jr0VuKOrtLhz6P]
Born in Nagykanizsa, Hungary to a Jewish family, Romberg showed early musical talent on piano and violin. His parents, however, steered him toward a practical career; he studied engineering in Vienna. In 1909, at age 22, he emigrated to the United States, settling in New York.
Romberg’s breakthrough came in 1917 with Maytime, a highly successful adaptation inspired by Franz Schubert. He went on to create a string of hits in the 1920s, often in a lush, melodic style. His most enduring works include The Student Prince and The Desert Song
These operettas emphasized sweeping melodies, emotional duets, and choral pieces, providing escapism through romance, adventure, and nostalgia. While some of his other shows leaned more toward American musical comedy styles, his core output helped popularize light operetta on Broadway and influenced later composers. Several of his works were adapted into successful films.
Romberg remained active in theatre and even composed for films until his later years. He married Lillian Harris in 1925; they had no children. He died of a stroke in New York City at age 64.
The New Moon written in 1928 is a swashbuckling story of love and revolution in 18th-century New Orleans/Louisiana, featuring classics such as “Lover, Come Back to Me,” “Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise,” and “Stouthearted Men.”
Although The Student Prince and The Desert Song get occasional revivals, The New Moon seems to have dropped out of the repertoire.
From the Sigmund Romberg biopic ‘Deep in My Heart’ the great Helen Traubel sings ‘Softly, As In a Morning Sunrise’.
[media=https://youtu.be/AhrzjSSCzKM?si=Y-jr0VuKOrtLhz6P]
56-60, M