Posted on 06/26/2014 8:45:58 AM PDT by EveningStar
Julius Rudel, the Austrian-born conductor who raised the New York City Opera to a venturous golden age with highbrow music for the masses and a repertory that, like him, bridged the Old and New Worlds, died on Thursday at his home in New York. He was 93.
His death, announced by his son, Anthony, came eight months after his beloved and financially struggling City Opera filed for bankruptcy and closed its doors.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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Classical Ping
This is sad. Rudel was a very competant conductor and helped put NYCO on the map by championing modern operas by composers like Carlisle Floyd, Douglas Moore and Ned Rorem. Great singers appeared at NYCO under his baton such as Beverly Sills, Placido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, Samuel Ramey and many others.
I saw him conduct Samuel Ramey in Mephistopheles at NYCO in 1977 or 76.
Awesome.
RIP.
Julius was a very good General Director and an outstanding singer’s conductor.
A little quibble: Sills, Domingo, Milnes and Ramey were members of the New York City Opera, and they all went on to have international careers. But only La Sills kept the City Opera as her home company even after she went supernova after the Julius Caesar in 1966.
Here’s La Sills and her beloved “Chulyus Darlink” making some beautiful music together. I love how he always let the orchestra breath right along with and support Sills.
Rest In Peace Maestro and Bubbles. You’re together again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3OSTB41QSo
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