Victor Herbert

Full biography Victor Herbert

Victor Herbert was an Irish-American composer, cellist, and conductor. He was born on February 1, 1859, in Dublin, Ireland, and died on May 26, 1924, in New York, USA. Herbert is widely known for his contribution to the American musical theater, particularly operettas and light music. He composed more than 40 operettas, including Babes in Toyland, Mlle. Modiste, The Red Mill, and Naughty Marietta, among others.

Herbert's musical training began at a young age, and he moved to Stuttgart, Germany, at the age of 16 to attend the Stuttgart Conservatory. He later joined the Frankfurt Opera Orchestra as a cellist and also held positions in Vienna and Stuttgart. In 1886, he moved to the United States and played for the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York City.

In addition to composing operettas, Herbert also composed serious music, including two grand operas, Natoma and Madeleine. He is also known for his works for orchestra, such as his Cello Concerto No. 2 and his American Suite.

Herbert was a prolific composer and conductor who had a significant impact on the development of American musical theater. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. New York City's Central Park has a monument dedicated to Herbert, and he is also commemorated in the Victor Herbert Birthplace Museum in Dublin, which was his childhood home.