Rudolph Bing
Encyclopedia
Sir Rudolf Bing was an Austrian-born opera
impresario
who worked in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, most notably being General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera
in New York
from 1950 to 1972. He became a British citizen in 1946 and was knight
ed by Queen Elizabeth II in 1971.
, Austro-Hungarian Empire to a well-to-do Jewish family (his father was an industrialist), Bing studied at the University of Vienna
and as a young man worked in theatrical and concert agencies. In 1927 he went to Berlin
, Germany
and subsequently served as general manager of opera houses in that city and in Darmstadt
.
While in Berlin he married a Russian ballerina, but in 1934, with the rise of Nazi Germany
, the Bings moved to Great Britain
where, in 1946 he became a naturalised British subject. There he helped to found the Glyndebourne Festival Opera
and, after the war, organised the Edinburgh Festival
in Scotland.
In 1949 he went to the United States
, to become General Manager of the Metropolitan the following year, a post he would hold for 22 years. During the 1960s, he supervised the move of the old Metropolitan to its new quarters in Lincoln Center and his administration presided over one of the most prominent eras of the Met. It was summed up in 1990 by James Oestreich in the New York Times as follows:
During Bing's tenure the Met's artist roster became integrated for the first time. Marian Anderson
became the first African American
to sing a leading role at the house in 1955. She was soon followed by Reri Grist, Robert McFerrin, Shirley Verrett, and many others.
Bing was noted for his preference for European singers and an apparent disinterest in some leading American performers. Notably, Beverly Sills
had to wait until after Bing's retirement to make her debut at the Metropolitan Opera
in 1975. In an interview after his retirement, Bing acknowledged that not using Sills was a mistake. Still, Bing fostered the careers of many American artists during his years at the Met. Roberta Peters, Leontyne Price, Anna Moffo, Sherrill Milnes, and Jess Thomas are just a few that flourished during his time.
After leaving the Met, Bing wrote two books, 5000 Nights at the Opera (1972) and A Knight at the Opera (1981).
, an American court eventually declared him incompetent to enter into a marriage contract and annulled the union.
In 1989 Roberta Peters
and Teresa Stratas
arranged for Bing to be admitted to The Hebrew Home for the Aged in Riverdale, Bronx
, where he resided until his death.
He died from respiratory failure
on September 2, 1997, aged 95 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Yonkers, New York
.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
impresario
Impresario
An impresario is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays or operas; analogous to a film producer in filmmaking, television production and an angel investor in business...
who worked in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, most notably being General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
from 1950 to 1972. He became a British citizen in 1946 and was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed by Queen Elizabeth II in 1971.
Career
Born Rudolph Franz Joseph Bing in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austro-Hungarian Empire to a well-to-do Jewish family (his father was an industrialist), Bing studied at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
and as a young man worked in theatrical and concert agencies. In 1927 he went to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and subsequently served as general manager of opera houses in that city and in Darmstadt
Darmstadt
Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Rhine Main Area.The sandy soils in the Darmstadt area, ill-suited for agriculture in times before industrial fertilisation, prevented any larger settlement from developing, until the city became the seat...
.
While in Berlin he married a Russian ballerina, but in 1934, with the rise of Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, the Bings moved to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
where, in 1946 he became a naturalised British subject. There he helped to found the Glyndebourne Festival Opera
Glyndebourne Festival Opera
Glyndebourne Festival Opera is an English opera festival held at Glyndebourne, an English country house near Lewes, in East Sussex, England.-History:...
and, after the war, organised the Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh International Festival
The Edinburgh International Festival is a festival of performing arts that takes place in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, over three weeks from around the middle of August. By invitation from the Festival Director, the International Festival brings top class performers of music , theatre, opera...
in Scotland.
In 1949 he went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, to become General Manager of the Metropolitan the following year, a post he would hold for 22 years. During the 1960s, he supervised the move of the old Metropolitan to its new quarters in Lincoln Center and his administration presided over one of the most prominent eras of the Met. It was summed up in 1990 by James Oestreich in the New York Times as follows:
Wielding his powerful position at the Metropolitan Opera with intense personal charisma over two decades, Sir Rudolf Bing ruled much of the operatic universe in autocratic fashion, nurturing young artists and cutting superstars down to size with equal enthusiasm. He oversaw the abandonment in 1966 of the stately but somewhat dilapidated old Metropolitan Opera House and the construction of a grand monument to his regime, the building the company now occupies, which dominates Lincoln Center. His conservative musical and dramatic bent, preference for Italian opera and concern for theatrical values yielded an identifiable artistic legacy.
During Bing's tenure the Met's artist roster became integrated for the first time. Marian Anderson
Marian Anderson
Marian Anderson was an African-American contralto and one of the most celebrated singers of the twentieth century...
became the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to sing a leading role at the house in 1955. She was soon followed by Reri Grist, Robert McFerrin, Shirley Verrett, and many others.
Bing was noted for his preference for European singers and an apparent disinterest in some leading American performers. Notably, Beverly Sills
Beverly Sills
Beverly Sills was an American operatic soprano whose peak career was between the 1950s and 1970s. In her prime she was the only real rival to Joan Sutherland as the leading bel canto stylist...
had to wait until after Bing's retirement to make her debut at the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
in 1975. In an interview after his retirement, Bing acknowledged that not using Sills was a mistake. Still, Bing fostered the careers of many American artists during his years at the Met. Roberta Peters, Leontyne Price, Anna Moffo, Sherrill Milnes, and Jess Thomas are just a few that flourished during his time.
After leaving the Met, Bing wrote two books, 5000 Nights at the Opera (1972) and A Knight at the Opera (1981).
Personal life
While living in Berlin, Bing married the Russian ballerina Nina Schelemskaya-Schlesnaya in 1928. They remained married until her death in 1983. In January 1987, he married Carroll Douglass, a 45 year-old woman who then took him with her to the Caribbean. However, she had a history of mental illness, and as Bing had been suffering for some years from Alzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
, an American court eventually declared him incompetent to enter into a marriage contract and annulled the union.
In 1989 Roberta Peters
Roberta Peters
Roberta Peters is an American coloratura soprano.One of the most prominent American singers to achieve lasting fame and success in opera, Peters is noted for her 35-year association with the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York...
and Teresa Stratas
Teresa Stratas
Teresa Stratas, OC , is a retired Canadian operatic soprano. She is especially well-known for her award-winning recording of Alban Berg's Lulu.-Early life and career:...
arranged for Bing to be admitted to The Hebrew Home for the Aged in Riverdale, Bronx
Riverdale, Bronx
Riverdale is an affluent residential neighborhood in the northwest portion of the Bronx in New York City. Riverdale contains the northernmost point in New York City.-History:...
, where he resided until his death.
He died from respiratory failure
Respiratory failure
The term respiratory failure, in medicine, is used to describe inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system, with the result that arterial oxygen and/or carbon dioxide levels cannot be maintained within their normal ranges. A drop in blood oxygenation is known as hypoxemia; a rise in arterial...
on September 2, 1997, aged 95 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Yonkers, New York
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
.