Word: kubelik
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...Gentele, came from the state-subsidized Royal Opera House in Stockholm. Gentele was killed in a car crash only 18 days after he took over. His most tangible legacy was the appointment of the first music director in the Met's 90-year history, Czech-born Conductor Rafael Kubelik. It is an indication of the deep trouble at the Met these days that Kubelik resigned under pressure last week after only six months in one of the most powerful posts in opera...
...which values its secrecy as much as its singers, was saying much about what caused the 59-year-old maestro's departure. Certainly a major complaint was that after spending the early fall in New York, Kubelik decamped for Munich to fulfill previously scheduled conducting commitments and kept in touch with New York largely via phone and Telex exchanges. In his absence, things began to come apart, beginning in January with a spectacularly unlucky production of Wagner's Tristan und Isolde. Swedish Soprano Catarina Ligendza, scheduled for the first performances, canceled, citing illness. In turn, Tenor Jon Vickers...
...President George S. Moore commented bluntly: "I am sorry about Kubelik's resignation, but it is impossible to do things by Telex. He worked part time." Understandably, Kubelik saw things differently. In a terse resignation statement he contended that the Met's financial condition prevented him from achieving his "artistic ideals." He concluded: "Relieved of certain of my artistic demands, the Metropolitan may be better able to bring its financial situation into balance." Exactly what these artistic requirements might be-beyond hustling up the odd Tosca in a hurry -remained unspecified...
Dvorak: Nine Symphonies (Berlin Philharmonic, Rafael Kubelik conducting; Deutsche Grammophon; 9 LPs; $49.50). Those who like their Dvorak in plural doses, but with budgets to balance, may safely investigate the late George Szell's album of the last three and best symphonies (Columbia; 3 LPs; $ 11.98). Most other fans of the Czech nationalist will want to save their pennies for this set. Kubelik's surging way with the music catches its color and drama and seems to belie the uneven moments in some of the early symphonies. The Berlin Philharmonic, reduced so often to a static silkiness...
Chapin believes that artistic matters should be left to artists. He regards himself strictly as an administrator "with veto power." Pending the arrival next season of Artistic Director Rafael Kubelik, this policy has created a certain decision vacuum, one result of which has been a spate of scheduling snafus. Looking over the spring rehearsal calendar, the manager of one conductor discovered his client and the singers were scheduled for rehearsals on different dates. "The Met used to be run like an efficient concentration camp," he growled. "Now it's run like an inefficient day camp." The second half...