Rudel: 1957–79 New York City Opera
the new york state theater auditorium seen stage (now david h. koch theater)
after leinsdorf fired, nyco board canceled 1957 spring season , appointed julius rudel new general director of company. rudel had been hired nyco straight out of college in 1944, , had worked on conducting staff there 13 years. under rudel s leadership, company reached new artistic heights, drawing critical praise performances of both standard , adventurous works. company became known cutting-edge stage direction, largely due rudel s willingness poach renowned directors theatre had not been involved opera before. mid-1960s company regarded 1 of leading opera companies in united states.
during tenure @ city opera, rudel displayed strong commitment american opera, commissioning 12 works , leading 19 world premieres. led large number of united states premieres, including alberto ginastera s don rodrigo tenor plácido domingo inauguration of nyco s new home @ new york state theater @ lincoln center (now called david h. koch theater) on february 22, 1966. same season company presented new york premiere of poulenc s dialogues of carmelites.
like predecessors, rudel had eye young american talent , responsible helping cultivate couple of generations of american singers. among singers careers furthered bass-baritone samuel ramey , lirico-spinto soprano carol vaness. 1 of apt decisions in forming artistic partnership beverly sills, making nyco s leading soprano 1956 until retirement stage in 1979, although joseph rosenstock deserves credit hiring in 1955 first performances company. nyco sills had first major critical success in first handel opera staged company, role of cleopatra in giulio cesare opposite norman treigle in 1966. @ time handel operas produced , production drew lot of attention international press. sills making appearances major opera houses around world. while sills busy international career, remained regular performer nyco until retirement. in 1970 john simon white appointed managing director of nyco, in order free rudel s schedule more artistic side of job. white remained in position until 1980.
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