Sills: 1979–88 New York City Opera

beverly sills in 1956, photo carl van vechten

upon sills s retirement stage in 1979, succeeded rudel general director of nyco. plan sills share post rudel, , phase him out. however, rudel decided resign in 1979 in order take position music director of buffalo philharmonic, , sills took post on entirely.

at time sills assumed position, nyco in bit of slump, being burdened 3 million dollar debt , coming off few seasons less favorable reviews. on business side, sills proved godsend company, showing prodigious gift fund-raising. time retired post in 1989, had grown company s budget $9 million ($30,000,000 in current dollar terms) $26 million ($50,000,000 in current dollar terms), , left company in black $3 million ($6,000,000 in current dollar terms) surplus. able achieve while still reducing ticket prices 20 percent, hope of attracting new , younger audiences.