Walter Taussig spent half a century training singers at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.
From 1949 to 2002, the Vienna-born vocal coach served as the chorus master and assistant conductor at the Met. His students included Placido Domingo, Birgit Nilsson and Maria Callas.
As a child, Taussig studied composition and conducting at the Music Academy in Vienna. After graduation, he was forced to flee Europe in order to avoid Nazi persecution for being Jewish. Taussig coached music students in Istanbul and Cairo before moving to Cuba, where he conducted the Havana Philharmonic. Before settling in New York, Taussig also worked at the Chicago Opera, the Montreal Opera and the San Francisco Opera.
Taussig died on July 31 of natural causes. He was 95.
Posted on August 18, 2003 12:09 AMI am so sad about this notice.
When I was at the MET ( First Cover for Tristan ) in 2000 Walter spendet me many hours lessons for Tristan. He was a loveley man and a great teacher.
He is always and for ever in my heart.
My maiden name was Taussig and my relatives from NYC. I don't know much about my family, but I'm assuming I'm somehow related...
Posted by atpanda on March 24, 2005 9:52 PM