Chicago, Covent Garden and Munich Rafael Kubelík

rafael kubelík (amsterdam, 1950)

in 1950, kubelík became music director of chicago symphony orchestra, choosing position on offer bbc succeed sir adrian boult chief conductor of bbc symphony orchestra. left post in 1953. hold hounded out of [chicago] job (to quote time magazine) savage attacks (to quote new grove dictionary of music , musicians) of chicago tribune music critic claudia cassidy. chicago sun-times music critic robert c. marsh argued in 1972 chicago symphony trustees behind departure. foremost complaint, , of cassidy well, kubelík introduced many contemporary works (about 70) orchestra; there objections demanding exhaustive rehearsals , engaging several black artists. many recordings made kubelík in chicago mercury records available on cd, , have received critical praise.

after leaving chicago, kubelík toured concertgebouw orchestra, and, in words of lionel salter in grove dictionary, had brilliant success janáček s kát kabanová @ sadler s wells in london in 1954 . kubelík became musical director of royal opera, covent garden, 1955 1958. among achievements there was, in 1957, first practically complete production in opera house of berlioz s les troyens. although covent garden sought renew contract, chose leave, partly because of campaign sir thomas beecham against engagement of foreign artists @ covent garden. in 1961 kubelík accepted position of music director of bavarian radio symphony orchestra (brso) in munich. remained brso until 1979, when retired. salter considers 18-year association high point of kubelík s career, both artistically , professionally.

in 1961 ludmilla kubelík died after car crash. in 1961, premiered concerto performance version of schoenberg s jakobsleiter-fragment in vienna, cologne radio symphony orchestra , choir.

in 1963 kubelík married australian soprano elsie morison (1924-2016). in 1967 became swiss citizen, , began association lucerne festival, in addition work brso.

in 1971, göran gentele, new general manager of metropolitan opera, new york, asked kubelík accept position of music director. kubelík accepted partly because of strong artistic relationship gentele. first production conducted met s music director les troyens. death of gentele in road accident in 1972 undermined kubelík s reasons working @ opera house. had prior conducting commitments away met in first season there, diverted attention. resigned met in 1974, after 6 months in post.

in post-czechoslovakian career, kubelík worked berlin philharmonic, boston symphony, chicago symphony, cleveland, israel philharmonic, london symphony, new york philharmonic, vienna philharmonic , royal concertgebouw orchestras, among others. final concert czech philharmonic.