William Henry Rieger (March 22, 1862 – January 26, 1930) was an American concert tenor and recitalist who was considered a specialist in the oratorio repertoire.[1][2] A native of New York City, he began his career as a church vocalist in the 1880s. In 1887–1888, he toured as a member of Dockstader's Minstrels, a blackface minstrel show. After this, he became a prominent concert tenor on the American stage in the 1890s and into the early 20th century, performing as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra among other organizations.
On rare occasions, Rieger performed opera repertoire, but largely eschewed this work, turning down an opera contract with Abbey, Schoeffel and Grau of Metropolitan Opera fame. In the 1910s, he mostly stopped performing but continued to work as a church singer. He devoted the remainder of his career to work as a voice teacher in New York. One of his better-known students was soprano Muriel Wilson.
Rieger died at the age of 67 in 1930.William Henry Rieger (March 22, 1862 – January 26, 1930) was an American concert tenor and recitalist who was considered a specialist in the oratorio repertoire.[1][2] A native of New York City, he began his career as a church vocalist in the 1880s. In 1887–1888, he toured as a member of Dockstader's Minstrels, a blackface minstrel show. After this, he became a prominent concert tenor on the American stage in the 1890s and into the early 20th century, performing as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra among other organizations.
On rare occasions, Rieger performed opera repertoire, but largely eschewed this work, turning down an opera contract with Abbey, Schoeffel and Grau of Metropolitan Opera fame. In the 1910s, he mostly stopped performing but continued to work as a church singer. He devoted the remainder of his career to work as a voice teacher in New York. One of his better-known students was soprano Muriel Wilson.
Rieger died at the age of 67 in 1930.William Henry Rieger (March 22, 1862 – January 26, 1930) was an American concert tenor and recitalist who was considered a specialist in the oratorio repertoire.[1][2] A native of New York City, he began his career as a church vocalist in the 1880s. In 1887–1888, he toured as a member of Dockstader's Minstrels, a blackface minstrel show. After this, he became a prominent concert tenor on the American stage in the 1890s and into the early 20th century, performing as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra among other organizations.
On rare occasions, Rieger performed opera repertoire, but largely eschewed this work, turning down an opera contract with Abbey, Schoeffel and Grau of Metropolitan Opera fame. In the 1910s, he mostly stopped performing but continued to work as a church singer. He devoted the remainder of his career to work as a voice teacher in New York. One of his better-known students was soprano Muriel Wilson.
Rieger died at the age of 67 in 1930.
