From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Nahan Franko
Nahan Franko
Nahan Franko (July 23, 1861-June 7, 1930) was an Ameri- Thrice married, Franko’s first wife was Edith Edwards
can violinist, conductor and concert promoter. His broth- whom he wed and divorced at a young age. On 7.3.1895
er was violinist and conductor Sam Franko. he married Cornelia Anna Ruppert (b. 6.21.1865) and be-
Franko was born in New Orleans, and studied the vi- came her widower on 12.3.1896. Cornelia Anna Ruppert-
olin in Europe with Joseph Joachim and August Wilhelmj. Franko was the sister of Hon. Col. Jacob Ruppert, Jr.
He became an orchestral violinist, playing with leading (8.5.1867-1.13.1939), famous beer baron and Congress-
American and European orchestras; he later became the man from New York City and owner of the New York
first American-born conductor to work at the Metropoli- Yankees. Franko’s widow was German actress Anna Braga
tan Opera in New York City. whom he married in 1899.
Nahan Franko made his debut in 1869 at Steinway At 68, Nahan Franko died of a blood clot at his Ami-
Hall, and subsequently toured with Adelina Patti as a tyville, New York home where he was recuperating from
child prodigy. After studying with Joachim and Wilhelmj an earlier stroke. His pallbearers included Theodore
in Berlin, he returned home and played with various or- Steinway and John Philip Sousa.
chestras, becoming concertmaster of the Metropolitan
Opera Orchestra in 1883, a position he retained until
1907. On November 30, 1904, he made his debut as con-
References
ductor with the company, leading Le Nozze di Fi- • David Ewen, Encyclopedia of Concert Music. New York;
garo—the first native-born American to conduct with the Hill and Wang, 1959.
company. Other works Franko conducted were Roméo, • K. Jacob Ruppert, J.D., great-grandnephew of Nahan
Faust, Zigeunerbaron, Die Fledermaus, Hansel und Gretel, Franko
Il Trovatore, Don Giovanni, and two ballets, Coppélia and
Bayer’s Puppenfee, as well as numerous Sunday-evening
concerts. He conducted 68 performances at the Met, and
External links
33 performances with the company elsewhere. He con- • Nahan Franko at Find a Grave
ducted approximately 67 opera performances andn 9 Persondata
dance works. The remaining were Metropolitan concerts. Name Franko, Nahan
As third conductor and concertmaster in 1904-05, he was
Alternative names
paid $4045. Beginning in 1908, he led open-air concerts
in Central Park, and it was largely through his efforts to Short description
make good music popular by performing these al fresco Date of birth 1861
concerts did NYC and the Metropolitan Opera begin the Place of birth
habit of performing free outdoor performances. Franko
celebrated his golden jubilee with a concert at the Hip- Date of death 1930
podrome. Nahan continued public and private perfor- Place of death
mances with his orchestra for nearly two decades.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nahan_Franko&oldid=396963348"
Categories:
• 1861 births
• 1930 deaths
• People from New Orleans, Louisiana
• American violinists
• American conductors (music)
• American violinist stubs
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