Romberg, Sigmund (1887-1951), was a famous composer of operettas. He wrote the music for such famous operettas as Maytime (1917), The Student Prince (1924), The Desert Song (1926), My Maryland (1927), The New Moon (1928), and Up in Central Park (1945). He adapted the music of the Austrian composer Franz Schubert for another popular operetta, Blossom Time (1921). Romberg’s many popular songs include “Deep in My Heart, Dear,” “The Desert Song,” “Stouthearted Men,” and “When I Grow Too Old to Dream.” He also wrote music for motion pictures and gained praise as a conductor of light classical music.
Romberg was born on July, 29, 1887, in Nagykanizsa, Hungary. Although he studied the violin as a child, Romberg planned to become an engineer. To help finance his engineering studies in a Vienna technical school, he worked as assistant manager at the Theater-an-der-Wien, Vienna’s leading theater for operettas. The productions Romberg saw there persuaded him to pursue a career in music.
Romberg moved to New York City in 1909. He eventually formed a small orchestra. Romberg was soon hired to write songs for musicals presented by J. J. and Lee Shubert, two brothers who operated theaters throughout the United States. Romberg composed music in the American ragtime fashion for several years before he began writing the European-style operettas for which he became famous. He died on Nov. 9, 1951.
