New York Mourns Caruso

One hundred years ago today … New Yorkers awoke to news that opera star Enrico Caruso, who had spent over a decade based in NYC, had died in Naples, actually two days earlier. “To New York City, the city of his myriad triumphs, as to the music loving world at large, the news of Enrico Caruso’s death was a stunning shock.” The singer had been sick since December of 1920 (see our post here) but was supposed to be recovering (“News Stuns Friends of the Singer Here,” New York Herald, 3 August 1921, p. 1). Newspapers.com.

The News devoted a full page to photographs representing different stages of Caruso’s life.

In the ensuing days, the city commemorated and mourned Caruso in numerous ways. 

On August 7, a memorial was held at Campbell Funeral Church at 1970 Broadway at 66th Street. (The institution still exists, now on Madison Avenue.)

A tribute concert August 8 at Lewissohn Stadium drew a crowd of 10,000. Victor Herbert conducted and Guido Ciccolini had the unenviable role of singing what would have been Caruso’s tenor parts. 

On August 11th, another memorial service was held in the Church Our Lady of Loretto at 303 Elizabeth Street.

Movies featuring Caruso played at the Rialto in Jamaica, Queens. 

Victor Records made sure to remind the public that its extensive Caruso discography was available on 78 rpm vinyl. 

– Jonathan Goldman, August 3, 2021

TAGS: music, opera, death, celebrity, Italian American history