In 1912, the conductor Otto Klemperer eloped with soprano Elisabeth Schumann, after the two fell in love while rehearsing at the Hamburg Opera. Inconveniently, Schumann happened already to be married.

Klemperer returned to the Opera to conduct Wagner’s “Lohengrin.” Following the performance, the hall resounded with applause, when all at once Klemperer caught the lash of a horsewhip brandished by Schumann’s apoplectic husband. Klemperer was taken off-guard, but quickly recovered. According to soprano Lotte Lehmann, he clambered out of the pit “like a huge black spider.” (Klemperer stood 6-foot-6.) When the two men were finally pried apart, Klemperer collected himself and turned to address the audience. “This man has attacked me because his wife loves me,” he said. “Good evening!”

It’s one of the many great stories recounted in this documentary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqz-qUiCgbQ

Happy birthday, Otto Klemperer.