Maurice Grau

Maurice Hermann Grau (1849 – 14 March 1907) was an Austrian-born American impresario, opera director, and theatre manager and producer. The Americana: A Universal Reference Library stated that "from 1872 until 1903 [Grau] was the most prominent operatic manager in America". He was a named partner in the US theatre management and production firm Abbey, Schoeffel and Grau which managed numerous theaters in Boston and New York City, including the Metropolitan Opera House. As part of this firm Grau co-managed the Metropolitan Opera (the Met) from 1891 until Abbey's death in 1896 when he took over sole management of the Met. He remained the manager of the Met until 1903 when he retired. He was also concurrently the manager of the Royal Opera House in London from 1897 to 1900.

Early life and education Maurice Grau was born in 1849 in Brünn, Austrian Empire (now Brno, Czech Republic) to Moravian parents Emmanuel and Rosalie Grau. The Grau family immigrated to the United States in 1854 when Maurice was five years old, settling in New York City where Emmanuel and Rosalie operated a boarding house. Theatre scholars Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak credited Aimée's American appearances with popularizing not only the genre of opéra bouffe in the United States but also setting the foundation for the popularity of the musical in the country.

Grau was also responsible for bringing Anton Rubinstein to the United States for his much lauded and profitable 1872–1873 American tour. In the same year he played a significant though unofficial role in the newly created Metropolitan Opera in New York when Abbey served as the Met's first managing director. Grau did not hold an official title at this point, but did the work of the Met's business manager for Abbey during its first season. Abbey did not renew his contract with the Met after its first year. It was rumored that Grau was a leading contender for his replacement, but Grau chose not to apply for the position.

In 1887 Grau joined forces with Schoeffel and Abbey to organize a tour featuring the French stage actress Sarah Bernhardt. The tremendous success of this tour led the men to establish the theatre management and production firm Abbey, Schoeffel and Grau immediately following this tour.

Grau's association with the Metropolitan Opera was renewed in 1890 when he partnered with Abbey to bring a special series of 21 opera performances to the Met stage.

He was named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour by the Government of France.