Walter Herbert (conductor)

Walter Herbert (né Seligmann; February 18, 1898 – September 14, 1975)[1] was an American conductor and impresario of German birth, and also a world champion at contract bridge.

Shortly before the 1938 Anschluss of Germany and Austria, Herbert visited Japan to introduce modern western classical music to that country.

Herbert worked with most of the great singers of his day, and gave many of them their start in the opera world.

(It was announced in May 1948 that Lanza had accepted the role of Alfredo Germont, in the New Orleans Opera's La traviata; but Hollywood apparently interfered with those plans.)

At the bridge table in the 1930s, Herbert was one member of the Austria national team led by Paul Stern.