Artur Rodzinski

Born January 1, 1892, Spalato, Dalmatia.
Died November 27, 1958, Boston, Massachusetts.

MUSIC DIRECTOR (1947-1948)

Artur Rodzinski studied jurisprudence at the University of Vienna, piano with Emil Sauer, composition with Franz Schreker, and conducting with Franz Schalk. He served in the Austrian army and upon his discharge, resumed a career in music, becoming choral and opera conductor in Lvov, Poland. In 1926 Rodzinski was appointed assistant to Leopold Stokowski with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and concurrently led the opera and orchestra departments at the Curtis Institute of Music.

Rodzinski began his tenure as conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1929, and after four seasons, became music director of the Cleveland Orchestra. While in Cleveland, he introduced the idea of concert opera, and in 1935, he led the American premiere of Shostakovich's controversial opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. The following year Rodzinski was invited by Toscanini to conduct at the Salzburg Festival, and in 1937, Toscanini commissioned him to organize the NBC Orchestra. These successes led to his appointment as music director of the New York Philharmonic in 1943; however, his volatile personality caused difficulties with management, and he resigned in the middle of his fourth season.

Following the death of Frederick Stock, Artur Rodzinski had been the Orchestral Association's original choice as music director; however, his position in New York prevented him from accepting the post. After Defauw's departure, Rodzinski was quickly appointed as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His arrival in Chicago was warmly anticipated-he had led the Orchestra on several occasions at the Ravinia Festival. The highlight of Rodzinski's tenure was a full-scale performance of Wagner's Tristan and Isolde with Kirsten Flagstad at the Civic Opera House. Despite the success of those performances, conflicts between Rodzinski and management quickly developed, and his contract was not renewed for the following season.

Rodzinski resumed his conducting career primarily in Europe. He returned to Chicago in November 1958 to conduct Tristan and Isolde at the Lyric Opera, but after three performances, a heart ailment forced him to cancel the remaining performances.