Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-21
STAGE CAVALIER
WINS FAMOUS
OPERA STAR
Nine. RappoId, Freed by Colorado
Courts, Will Become Bride
of Rudolph Berger.

NEW YORK, June 20.-Mme. Marie
Rappold of the Metropolitan Opera
Company has returned to her city
home from a Western concert tour
and confirmed the report that has
been lately whispered of her ap-
preaching marriage with Rudolph
Berger of the Royal Opera, Vienna. He
is either on the sea or will shortly
sail to join her here Their honey
moon will occupy them until the open
ing Of the next opera season, when he
will make his debut as a member of
the Metropolitan company.
The wedding viii complete a ro-
nance of several years. Nine. Rap
pold sang Elsa to Berger's Lohengrin,
at the Berlin Royal Opera, with the
mutual discovery that they were. ar
tistic affinities. His selection as the
Lohengrin for the gala performance
last month in Berlin. in honor of the
nuptials of Princess Victoria Luise
and Prince Ernest Augustus of Cum
berland, set imperial sanction on the
verdict of the critics that he is the
best interpreter Of the heroic knight
on the stage.
Singer Sought Divorce.
DIR. Julius c. Rappold, Jr., stood in
the way of the union. He had been
the husband of the prima donna long
enough for them to have a daughter
now grown, but a separation follow
ed the operate engagement of Nine.
Rappold in 1906. Since then she and
the daughter had lived in the sump-
tuous atmosphere of high art, while
DIR. Rappold continued to practice
medicine in modest quarters at 75O
Flushing Avenue, Brooklyn.
Husband and wife rarely. met, but
they had no abrupt break He often
attended the opera when she sang and
sent her flowers, without obtruding
his presence upon her. She made no
secret among her friends of her de-
sire for a divorce, saying she had mar
ried too young to realize what she
was doing, and as there was no love
in the union it finally became intol-
cradle.
His version was that in his years of
struggle he had sacrificed everything
to her ambition and when she had
worked herself into a realm far above
him she chose to live apart. He pro-
tested that he had always loved her
ana their daughter. she scored at
both of these assertions.
Il will not permit her to get n d.
vorce," the doctor said in 1911. THAT
is my attitude for her own good, and
for fear that she will make an unwise
marriage" The meeting with Ber-
ger had then occurred.
Obtained Decree in May.
As Dr. Rappold refused to furnish
cause for divorce in this State the
singer engaged quarters in a small
town near Denver last year. Having
established a legal residence there she
sued for divorce in a Colorado court
at the close of musical engagement
in Houston, Tex, last month and OBJ
tanned a decree dated May 10. Then
she resumed her concert tour.
When DR.. RappOld was told of the
Colorado decree in May he would not
intimate. his intentions. Last night he
declined to comment on the new we'd
ding prospects.
Like Jean de Reszke, Rudolph Ber-
ger began his musical career as a
baritone. A master who discovered
the possibilities Of his voice, develop
ed him into a tenor He has made
his reputation in heroic roles.
Nine. Rappold had been a concert
singer for years when Heinrich Con-
reid, in 1906, heard her at a Brook
Ign festival and engaged her for the
Metropolitan Company. She has since
acquitted herself well in a variety of
important operas. She sang for two
seasons as the star at La Scala, Milan.