Sigmund Romberg
Sigmund Romberg was born on July 29
1887 in Nagykanizsa, Hungary. In 1909
he moved to the United States and
settled in New York. His first great
success came in 1917 with "Maytime"
and another was the success "Blossom
Time" in 1921. He followed that with
one of his greatest successes, "The
Student Prince", in 1924.
In 1926, Romberg teamed up with Oscar
Hammerstein II and Otto Harbach for
"The Desert Song", and with
Hammerstein for "New Moon" in 1928.
Throughout the 1930s, he wrote for
several films, including two with
Hammerstein "Viennese Nights" (1930)
and "The Night is Young" (1934), which
featured the song "When I Grow Too
Old to Dream." His final Broadway
show, written with Victor Herbert and
Dorothy Fields, was "Up in Central Park"
in 1945.

In 1954, Jose Ferrer portrayed Romberg
in the film "Deep in My Heart".

Oscar Hammerstein II
Oscar Hammerstein II is today considered the most important figure in the history of American musical theatre for he was probably the best "book writer" in Broadway history. His most successful collaboration came when he teamed up with Richard Rodgers to write a musical adaptation of the play "Green Grow the Lilacs". The result was "Oklahoma" a show which revolutionized the American musical theatre

It also began a partnership which would produce such classic Broadway musicals as "Carousel", "South Pacific", "The King and I", "Flower Drum Song", and "The Sound of Music" as well as the musical film "State Fair" and the TV musical "Cinderella".

Hammerstein also produced the book and lyrics for "Carmen Jones", an adaptation of Geoges Bizet's opera "Carmen" with an all black cast.


Softly As In A Morning Sunrise

Words & music by:-
Sigmund Romberg & Oscar Hammerstein II

Softly, as in a morning sunrise
The light of love comes stealing
Into a new born day

Flaming with all the glow of sunrise
A burning kiss is stealing
The vow that all betray

For the passions that thrill love
And lift you high to heaven
Are the passions that kill love
And let you fall to hell

Softly, as in an evening sunset
The light that gave you glory
Will take it all away

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