RUDEL, JULIUS

born , March 6, 1921, Vienna Austrian-born U.S. conductor and opera impresario who was conductor or director of the New York City Opera, 194479. Rudel attended the Vienna Academy of Music and, after immigrating to the United States in 1938, studied at the Mannes School of Music in New York. In 1943 he joined the New York City Opera as a rehearsal pianist and coach. He made his conducting debut in a New York City Opera production of Johann Strauss's The Gypsy Baron in 1944, and in the following years he continued to conduct at the New York City Opera. He also directed the Third Street Music School (194552) and acted as music director of the New York City Light Opera. From 1957 to 1979, he served as director of the New York City Opera. Rudel instilled the spirit of ensemble opera in the company, which, during those years, offered an adventurous repertory; noteworthy were its premieres of American operas by Carlisle Floyd, Robert Ward, Douglas Moore, and Hugo Weisgall. Rudel achieved a memorable success with Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate at the Vienna Volksoper in 1956. He was the first music director of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. (197174). In 1979 he went on to become music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.