Victor Herbert
February 1, 1859 – May 26, 1924
Cellist and composer, Victor Herbert, had a string of successful operettas in early-Broadway era New York. While the operetta artform was exploding at the end of the 19th Century thanks to the success of the British duo, Gilbert and Sullivan, and theatre in New York becoming more and more accessible to the middle class, Herbert churned out hits like The Fortune Teller, Babes in Toyland, The Red Mill and Naughty Marietta. His shows explored more intimate themes and varied styles of popular music, helping bridge the gap between classic opera and what would become known as the “Broadway musical.”
Born on the island of Guernsey in the English Channel and raised in England and Germany, Victor Herbert moved to the United States in 1886. Though mostly known for his 40+ operettas, he also wrote full operas and plays and composed dozens of pieces of music for piano, cello and orchestra. He was one of the most prolific composers of his era. With his European upbringing, he helped popularize the Viennese style of music in the U.S. Most notably, a number of his most enduring compositions are waltzes.
Herbert was heavily involved in the song writing collective known as “Tin Pan Alley” and was instrumental in the creation of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and the fight to protect artists’ rights to be paid fairly for their work.
In his later career, he often wrote music for popular Broadway shows. He contributed ballet scores to shows by Jerome Kern and Irving Berlin. He famously collaborated with Florenz Ziegfeld on several Ziegfeld Follies revues.
Victor Herbert died of a heart attack at the age of 65. His life and legacy have been portrayed in a number of movies and many of his own works have been adapted to the screen.
Burial
Woodlawn Cemetery – Bronx NY
Specific Location
Whitewood Plot, Section 132; Private mausoleum on the west side of Tulip Avenue in the Whitewood section
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