Background
Rudel, Julius was born on March 6, 1921 in Vienna, Austria. Son of Jakob and Josephine (Sonnenblum) Rudel. came to the United States, 1938, naturalized, 1944.
Rudel, Julius was born on March 6, 1921 in Vienna, Austria. Son of Jakob and Josephine (Sonnenblum) Rudel. came to the United States, 1938, naturalized, 1944.
Student, Academy Music, Vienna. Diploma in conducting, Mannes College Music, 1942. Diploma honorary doctorates, University Vermont, 1961.
Diploma honorary doctorates, University Michigan, 1971. Doctorates honorary causa, Pace College. Doctorates honorary causa, Manhattan College, 1994.
Doctorates honorary causa, Mannes College Music, 1994. Doctorates honorary causa, Manhattanville College, 1994. Doctorates honorary causa, Manhattan School Music, 1996.
He emigrated to the United States at the age of 17 in 1938 after the country was annexed by Germany. After completing his music studies, he joined the New York City Opera. He died on 26 June 2014 at the age of 93.
New York City Opera
After 1944, he began a 35-year career with that company which continued until 1979.
He led the company to its new home at the New York State Theater in Lincoln Center, where it opened in February 1966 with Alberto Ginastera"s Don Rodrigo, in which he cast an unknown 25-year-old tenor, Plácido Domingo. Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
In 1979, he accepted the position of Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, succeeding Michael Tilson Thomas and led that orchestra through the 1985 season.
Other positions
Rudel conducted major orchestras and operas throughout the world. Between 1958 and 1963 he conducted frequently for the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company, also serving as the company"s Artistic Director for part of that time.
In 1978, he first conducted at the Metropolitan Opera, making his debut with Werther.
He was the first Music Director of both Washington"s Kennedy Center and the Wolf Trap Opera Company, and from 1962 to 1976 he was Music Director of the Caramoor Festival. He was a National Patron of Delta Omicron, an international professional music fraternity. In 2009 he was honored by the United States National Endowment for the Arts for his many contributions to opera.
He died in Manhattan on 26 June 2014.
Married Rita Gillis, June 24, 1942 (deceased May 1984). Children: Joan, Madeleine, Anthony Jason.