Max Rudolf Papers
Catalog Record: http://lccn.loc.gov/2011570506
General International Standard for Archival Description
Music Division Library of Congress Washington, D.C.
Finding aid encoded by Library of Congress Music Division, 2011
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Max Rudolf Papers 1922-1993 (bulk 1945-1992)
Rudolf, Max, 1902-1995
Biographical History for: Max Rudolf Papers 1922-1993 (bulk 1945-1992)
Biographical Note Max Rudolf (1902-1995) was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, on June 15, 1902. He began musical studies at age seven, learning piano, organ, cello, and trumpet. He began to compose at age eleven, and at thirteen, commenced professional musical studies with Bernard Sekles, remaining with this teacher for the next six years. Rudolf attended Frankfurt University and the Hochschule für Musik from 1921-1922, making his conducting debut in March 1923 at Freiburg in a production of Johann Strauss's opera Die Fledermaus. During the following years 1924-1929, he familiarized himself with standard operatic repertory while holding down posts at the Städtisches Theater (Freiburg) and at Darmstadt. Rudolf then became principal conductor of the German theater in Prague from 1929-1935, where he became acquainted with George Szell. He also appeared as guest conductor with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (1929-1930). From 1935-1940, Rudolf resided in Göteborg, Sweden, while holding positions as choral director for the Orchestral Society and the Swedish Broadcasting Company. He left Europe in October 1940, travelling east across Russia, Japan, and the Hawaiian Islands, finally arriving in San Francisco. He initially secured a position teaching conducting and score reading at the Music Department of the Y.M.C.A. College in Chicago, later moving to New York in December 1943, where he was eventually engaged by the New Opera Company for a production of Offenbach's operetta La Vie Parisienne. Rudolf became a naturalized American citizen in 1945. In the fall of 1945, Rudolf was hired as an assistant conductor with the Metropolitan Opera, his debut being the Gala Program Annual Benefit Concert on January 13, 1946. He served as both a conductor for the organization from 1946 to 1958 and as its assistant manager from 1950-1958. He held the post of music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra from 1958-1970 and signed on as musical director for the Cincinnati May Festival from 1963-1970. Rudolf joined the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music in 1970, serving as head of the conducting and opera departments until 1973, after which time he returned to the Metropolitan Opera for an additional two seasons (1973-1975). Earlier, Rudolf had also returned to New York to participate in two historically significant Metropolitan Opera events: the Old Metropolitan Opera House Gala Farewell (April 16, 1966) and Rudolf Bing's Gala Farewell (April 22, 1972). Throughout the 1970s, he served as artistic advisor to the Dallas, Detroit, and New Jersey Symphony Orchestras, and continued to make regular guest appearances with several major American orchestras and opera houses well into his eighties. He rejoined the faculty of the Curtis Institute in 1983 and continued as an emeritus member until his death on February 28, 1995. In addition to his work as conductor and pedagogue, Rudolf recorded extensively and authored the conducting textbook The Grammar of Conducting (1950) that received further revisions in 1969, 1981, and 1995.
Scope and Content Note The Max Rudolf Papers span the period 1922-1993, with the majority of materials dating from his professional period in the United States, 1945-1992. The collection is arranged in three series: Correspondence, 1922-1993; Photographs, 1952 and undated; and Metropolitan Opera Annual Files, 1946-1975. Rudolf corresponded with many pre-eminent 20th century composers, conductors, vocalists, instrumentalists, musicologists, music critics, individuals responsible for the management of American orchestras and operatic companies, and many other well-known individuals in non-musical fields. Topics of correspondence include much discussion on the art of conducting, matters of musical interpretation, contemporary composers and their compositions, performers, programming, and other musical matters. The collection contains extensive correspondence with conductors Antal Dorati (15 letters), Rafael Kubelik (7 letters), Erich Leinsdorf (14 letters), Eugene Ormandy (86 letters), George Szell (over 200 letters), Fritz Reiner, Leopold Stokowski, William Steinberg, Bruno Walter, and many others. Rudolf corresponded with prominent composers, including Samuel Barber, Luigi Dallapiccola, David Diamond, Norman Dello Joio, Percy Grainger, Hans Werner Henze, Paul Hindemith, Gian Carlo Menotti, Gunther Schuller, and William Schuman. He also exchanged communications with major performers such as Roberta Peters, Risë Stevens, Richard Tucker, Isaac Stern, Glenn Gould, Byron Janis, Igor Kipnis, Leonard Rose, and Rudolf Serkin. Additional letters with various directors, producers, and administrators of opera companies and orchestras are present as well, highlighted by substantial communications with Metropolitan Opera management, especially Rudolf Bing (39 letters). Rudolf corresponded with musicologists H.C. Robbins Landon and Paul Henry Lang as well. Rudolf's tenure at the Curtis Institute of Music and his affiliation with the American Symphony Orchestra League are also well documented. Many letters are accompanied by carbon copies of Rudolf's replies. Clippings, reviews, and other inserts are often found among the letters, as are occasional photographs enclosed by the correspondent. Rudolf's Metropolitan Opera annual files represent the years he was active with that organization: 1946-1958 and 1973-1975, as well as individual appearances made in 1966 (Gala Metropolitan Opera House Farewell) and 1972 (Rudolf Bing's Gala Farewell). Each annual file includes operatic programs (often annotated by Rudolf), Metropolitan Opera annual publications, contracts, correspondence, itineraries, travel-related expense bills, articles, clippings, radio broadcast scripts, press releases, rehearsal schedules, and other miscellaneous documents. Preservation photocopies of Metropolitan Opera broadside programs (1949-1958 seasons) and original broadsides (1973-1974 season) are filed separately due to format considerations. The Photographs series contains a handful of photographs of Rudolf alone and with other musicians.
series
Correspondence, 1922-1993
Correspondence with prominent 20th century composers, conductors, performers, musicologists, music critics, managers of major American orchestras and opera companies, and others. Reviews, clippings, photographs, or other material may accompany correspondence.
file
American Symphony Orchestra League, 1960-1972
Barber, Elinore, 1970-1980, 1988-1992
Barber, Samuel, 1945-1946, 1955-1958
Bing, Rudolf, 1953-1972, 1982-1983
Böhm, Karl, 1930-1934
Bräm, Thűring, 1971-1992
Britten, Benjamin, 1966
Brubeck, Dave, 1969
Charry, Michael, 1972-1982
Charry, Michael, 1983-1992
Copland, Aaron, 1966
Curtis Institute of Music, 1968-1973
Dallapiccola, Luigi, 1971, 1973-1974
Dello Joio, Norman, 1956, 1958-1988
Diamond, David, 1960-1964, 1967
Dorati, Antal, 1946-1981
Etler, Alvin, 1970
Fagan, Arthur, 1974-1989
Frommel, Gerhard, 1928
Goldovsky, Boris, 1948-1949, 1959-1978
Goldschmidt, Berthold, 1931
Gould, Glenn, 1961-1964, 1971
Graffman, Gary, 1976-1977, 1986-1992
Grainger, Percy, 1959
Hanson, Howard, 1956, 1962
Henze, Hans Werner, 1967
Hindemith, Paul, 1944
Horszowski, Mieczyslaw, 1972-1991
Husa, Karel, 1967-1968, 1977
Jacobi, Frederick, 1941, 1945
Järvi, Paavo, 1986-1992
Josephs, Wilfred, 1967-1971, 1979-1986
Kalam, Tonu, 1972-1990
Klein, Lothar, 1970, 1976
Klemperer, Otto, 1928, 1935
Korn, Michael, 1985-1986
Kowalski, Max, 1948, 1950-1951
Kunzel, Erich, 1962, 1971-1990
La Violette, Wesley, 1949
Labunski, Felix, 1973
Lees, Benjamin, 1970, 1973-1974
Leinsdorf, Erich, 1961-1990
Levin, Ira, 1984-1990
Levine, James, 1958-1971
Loebel, David, 1978-1992
Lustgarten, Egon, 1958
Maciejewski, Roman, 1961
Martino, Donald, 1975-1976
Massarani, Renzo, 1928
Mennin, Peter, 1969-1977, 1980-1983
Menotti, Gian Carlo, 1960-1963
Metropolitan Opera Management/Board/Guild, "A", 1961-1962
Metropolitan Opera Management/Board/Guild, "B", 1945-1978, 1983
Metropolitan Opera Management/Board/Guild, "C-F", 1948-1954, 1972-1976
Metropolitan Opera Management/Board/Guild, "G", 1953-1972, 1979-1981
Metropolitan Opera Management/Board/Guild, "H", 1958-1971
Metropolitan Opera Management/Board/Guild, "I-L", 1948-1949, 1956-1964
Metropolitan Opera Management/Board/Guild, "M-P", 1946-1951, 1962-1972
Metropolitan Opera Management/Board/Guild, "R", 1952-1978
Metropolitan Opera Management/Board/Guild, "S", 1941, 1952-1974
Metropolitan Opera Management/Board/Guild, "T-Z", 1950-1958, 1971-1974
Metropolitan Opera singers, "A", 1949-1972, 1990
Metropolitan Opera singers, "B", 1946-1965
Metropolitan Opera singers, "C", 1961-1963, 1971-1973
Metropolitan Opera singers, "D", 1943-1958, undated
Metropolitan Opera singers, "E-F", 1956-1966, 1974
Metropolitan Opera singers, "G", 1950-1952, 1958-1963
Metropolitan Opera singers, "H-J", 1927-1965, 1970-1991
Metropolitan Opera singers, "K-L", 1944-1952, 1960-1989
Metropolitan Opera singers, "M-O", 1947-1949, 1960-1975
Metropolitan Opera singers, "P", 1950-1972, 1981-1983
Metropolitan Opera singers, "R", 1947-1952, 1961
Metropolitan Opera singers, "S", 1946-1960, 1974-1989
Metropolitan Opera singers, "T", 1938-1957, 1968-1975
Metropolitan Opera singers, "U-V", 1949-1957, 1973-1975
Metropolitan Opera singers, "W-Z", 1950, 1958
Mills, Charles, 1973
Miscellaneous conductors, "A", 1948-1965, 1970-1988
Miscellaneous conductors, "B", 1946-1950, 1957-1967, 1972-1989
Miscellaneous conductors, "C", 1945-1982
Miscellaneous conductors, "D", 1930-1992
Miscellaneous conductors, "E", 1956-1985
Miscellaneous conductors, "F", 1947-1983
Miscellaneous conductors, "G", 1960-1980
Miscellaneous conductors, "H", 1943-1983
Miscellaneous conductors, "J", 1982-1989
Miscellaneous conductors, "K", 1947-1991
Miscellaneous conductors, "L", 1965-1981
Miscellaneous conductors, "M", 1940-1992
Miscellaneous conductors, "N", 1965-1989
Miscellaneous conductors, "P", 1961-1983
Miscellaneous conductors, "R", 1930-1983, 1993
Miscellaneous conductors, "S", 1947-1992
Miscellaneous conductors, "T", 1961-1992
Miscellaneous conductors, "U-V", 1932-1948, 1960-1983
Miscellaneous conductors, "W", 1934-1992
Miscellaneous conductors, "Y-Z", 1959-1988
Miscellaneous directors, producers, administrators, "A-C", 1953, 1962, 1976-1986
Miscellaneous directors, producers, administrators, "D-F", 1927-1950, 1964, 1976-1978
Miscellaneous directors, producers, administrators, "G-J", 1932-1935, 1941-1964, 1970-1975
Miscellaneous directors, producers, administrators, "K-L", 1925-1931, 1950-1959, 1983
Miscellaneous directors, producers, administrators, "M", 1929-1939, 1945-1958, 1972-1973
Miscellaneous directors, producers, administrators, "N-R", 1955-1957, 1981-1982
Miscellaneous directors, producers, administrators, "S", 1929-1950, 1958-1962, 1981-1982
Miscellaneous directors, producers, administrators, "T-W", 1933-1934, 1964, 1979
Miscellaneous directors, producers, administrators, "Y-Z", 1948-1958, 1963-1981
Miscellaneous orchestras and opera companies, 1954-1980
Miscellaneous performers, "A", 1947-1982
Miscellaneous performers, "B", 1959-1968, 1973-1978
Miscellaneous performers, "C", 1964-1990
Miscellaneous performers, "D", 1961-1985
Miscellaneous performers, "E-F", 1931-1992
Miscellaneous performers, "G", 1955-1991
Miscellaneous performers, "H-I", 1952-1992
Miscellaneous performers, "K", 1954-1992
Miscellaneous performers, "L", 1949, 1977-1990
Miscellaneous performers, "M", 1961-1974, 1993
Miscellaneous performers, "O-P", 1961-1970, 1981-1992
Miscellaneous performers, "R", 1953-1981
Miscellaneous performers, "S", 1960-1991
Miscellaneous performers, "T-W", 1941-1979
Miscellaneous performers, "W", 1988-1991
Music personalities, "A-B", 1936, 1950-1975, 1990
Music personalities, "C-E", 1936-1950, 1962-1966, 1971-1985
Music personalities, "F", 1947-1982
Music personalities, "G", 1953-1972, 1979, 1987
Music personalities, "H", 1939-1958, 1964-1989
Music personalities, "I-L", 1931, 1957-1967, 1970-1981
Music personalities, "M-O", 1945-1968, 1970-1990
Music personalities, "P-R", 1941-1964, 1970-1974, 1983
Music personalities, "S-U", 1961-1975, 1980-1990
Music personalities, "V-Z", 1960-1967, 1972-1983
Musicologists, "A", 1974-1983, 1986
Musicologists, "B", 1922-1929, 1972-1989
Musicologists, "C-D", 1973-1979, 1984-1991
Musicologists, "E-G", 1983-1987
Musicologists, "H", 1973-1974, 1979-1990
Musicologists, "I-K", 1969-1972, 1979-1991
Musicologists, "L", 1962, 1972-1977, 1987-1990
Musicologists, "M", 1971-1973, 1986-1992
Musicologists, "N-O", 1977, 1986-1987
Musicologists, "P-R", 1945, 1950, 1979-1986
Musicologists, "S", 1953-1963, 1970-1993
Musicologists, "T-V", 1971-1978, 1985-1990
Musicologists, "W", 1979-1983, 1989-1992
Musicologists, "X-Z", 1975-1991
Muti, Riccardo, 1988
Nelhybel, Vaclav, 1964
Oltman, Dwight, 1967-1981
Ormandy, Eugene, 1950-1983
Peinemann, Edith, 1962-1992 see also Box 14, Photographs
Powers, Maxwell, 1942-1946
Proto, Frank, 1977-1992
Rathaus, Karol, 1954
Reiner, Fritz, 1949-1953, 1962-1963, 1971-1972 see also Box 14, Photographs
Richman, James, 1972-1989
Rogers, Bernard, 1946-1968
Rostropovich, Mstislav, 1983
Rubinstein, Artur, 1966, 1980
Schippers, Thomas, 1949-1977
Schuller, Gunther, 1959-1989
Schuman, William, 1945-1980
Sekles, Bernhard, 1922-1934
Serkin, Rudolf, 1960-1991
Simmons, Calvin, 1970-1982
Smith, Mark, 1985-1992
Stern, Isaac, 1959-1992
Stern, Michael, 1981-1992
Stokowski, Leopold, 1960-1968
Stravinsky, Igor, 1965 see also Box 14, Photographs
Suderburg, Robert, 1977
Surinach, Carlos, 1968-1973
Szell, Georg, 1929-1974, 1991
Takács, Jenö, 1954-1992
Thorpe, Francis, 1976
Velazco, Emil, 1966
Voois, Jacques C., 1976-1992
Walter, Bruno, 1938-1956
Watkins, Sara, 1983, 1992
Waxman, Franz, 1948
Wojeik, Raymond, 1973
Yahr, Barbara, 1986-1992
Photographs, 1952 and undated
Miscellaneous images of Rudolf alone or with other people.
Max Rudolf, alone, undated
Max Rudolf, with Edith Peinemann, undated
Max Rudolf, with Fritz Reiner, Igor Stravinsky and George Balanchine, December 26, 1952
Metropolitan Opera Annual Files, 1946-1975
Metropolitan Opera publications (i.e. brochures, booklets, annual statements of operations, other business reports), articles, clippings, correspondence, miscellaneous documents (contracts, official papers, invitations, etc.), photographs, programs (regular season performances and annual spring tour, often annotated by Rudolf), radio broadcast scripts, press releases, rehearsal schedules, itineraries, and travel-related expense bills. Preservation photocopies of broadside programs covering seasons 1949-1958 and original broadsides for the 1973-1974 season are housed separately in Box 22.
Annual file, 1945-1946
Annual publications and brochures, 1945-1946
Articles, 1945-1946
Clippings, 1945-1946
Correspondence, 1945-1946
Miscellaneous documents, 1945-1946
Photographs, 1945-1946
Programs (regular season), 1945-1946
Spring Tour. Itineraries, Spring 1946
Spring Tour. Programs, Spring 1946
Annual file, 1946-1947
Annual publications and brochures, 1946-1947
Articles, 1946-1947
Clippings, 1946-1947
Correspondence, 1946-1947
Miscellaneous documents, 1946-1947
Photographs, 1946-1947
Press releases, 1946-1947
Programs (regular season), 1946-1947
Spring Tour. Itineraries, Spring 1947
Spring Tour. Programs, Spring 1947
Annual file, 1947-1948
Annual publications and brochures, 1947-1948
Clippings, 1947-1948
Correspondence, 1947-1948
Miscellaneous documents, 1947-1948
Photographs, 1947-1948
Programs (regular season), 1947-1948
Spring Tour. Itineraries, Spring 1948
Spring Tour. Programs, Spring 1948
Spring Tour. Travel expenses and related bills, Spring 1948
Annual file, 1948-1949
Annual publications and brochures, 1948-1949
Clippings, 1948-1949
Correspondence, 1948-1949
Miscellaneous documents, 1948-1949
Photographs, 1948-1949
Programs (regular season), 1948-1949
Spring Tour. Itineraries, Spring 1949
Spring Tour. Programs, Spring 1949
Spring Tour. Travel expenses and related bills, Spring 1949
Annual file, 1949-1950
Annual publications and brochures, 1949-1950
Articles, 1949-1950
Clippings, 1949-1950
Correspondence, 1949-1950
Miscellaneous documents, 1949-1950
Photographs, 1949-1950
Press releases, 1949-1950
Programs (regular season), 1949-1950
Spring Tour. Itineraries, Spring 1950
Spring Tour. Programs, Spring 1950
Spring Tour. Travel expenses and related bills, Spring 1950
Annual file, 1950-1951
Annual publications and brochures, 1950-1951
Articles, 1950-1951
Clippings, 1950-1951
Correspondence, 1950-1951
Miscellaneous documents, 1950-1951
Photographs, 1950-1951
Programs (regular season), 1950-1951
Radio broadcast script, March 24, 1951
Spring Tour. Itineraries, Spring 1951
Spring Tour. Programs, Spring 1951
Annual file, 1951-1952
Annual publications and brochures, 1951-1952
Articles, 1951-1952
Clippings, 1951-1952
Correspondence, 1951-1952
Miscellaneous documents, 1951-1952
Photographs, 1951-1952
Programs (regular season), 1951-1952
Spring Tour. Itineraries, Spring 1952
Spring Tour. Programs, Spring 1952
Spring Tour. Travel expenses and related bills, Spring 1952
Annual file, 1952-1953
Annual publications and brochures, 1952-1953
Articles, 1952-1953
Clippings, 1952-1953
Correspondence, 1952-1953
Miscellaneous documents, 1952-1953
Photographs, 1952-1953
Press releases, 1952-1953
Programs (regular season), 1952-1953
Spring Tour. Itineraries, Spring 1953
Spring Tour. Programs, Spring 1953
Annual file, 1953-1954
Annual publications and brochures, 1953-1954
Articles, 1953-1954
Clippings, 1953-1954
Correspondence, 1953-1954
Miscellaneous documents, 1953-1954
Photographs, 1953-1954
Press releases, 1953-1954
Programs (regular season), 1953-1954
Radio broadcast scripts, January-March 1954
Spring Tour. Itineraries, Spring 1954
Spring Tour. Programs, Spring 1954
Spring Tour. Travel expenses and related bills, Spring 1954
Annual file, 1954-1955
Annual publications and brochures, 1954-1955
Articles, 1954-1955
Clippings, 1954-1955
Correspondence, 1954-1955
Miscellaneous documents, 1954-1955
Photographs, 1954-1955
Press releases, 1954-1955
Programs (regular season), 1954-1955
Spring Tour. Itineraries, Spring 1955
Spring Tour. Programs, Spring 1955
Spring Tour. Travel expenses and related bills, Spring 1955
Annual file, 1955-1956
Annual publications and brochures, 1955-1956
Articles, 1955-1956
Central Opera Service. Conference, March 16-17, 1956
Clippings, 1955-1956
Correspondence, 1955-1956
Miscellaneous documents, 1955-1956
Photographs, 1955-1956
Programs (regular season), 1955-1956
Radio broadcast script, December 31, 1955
Spring Tour. Itineraries, Spring 1956
Spring Tour. Programs, Spring 1956
Spring Tour. Travel expenses and related bills, Spring 1956
Annual file, 1956-1957
Annual publications and brochures, 1956-1957
Articles, 1956-1957
Clippings, 1956-1957
Correspondence, 1956-1957
Miscellaneous documents, 1956-1957
Photographs, 1956-1957
Press releases, 1956-1957
Programs (regular season), 1956-1957
Spring Tour. Itineraries, Spring 1957
Spring Tour. Programs, Spring 1957
Annual file, 1957-1958
Annual publications and brochures, 1957-1958
Articles, 1957-1958
Clippings, 1957-1958
Correspondence, 1957-1958
Farewell party, Colonial Club, New York City, March 29, 1958
Miscellaneous documents, 1957-1958
Photographs, 1957-1958
Programs (regular season), 1957-1958
Spring Tour. Itineraries, Spring 1958
Spring Tour. Programs, Spring 1958
Annual file. Old Metropolitan Opera House Gala Farewell, 1966
Annual publications, 1965-1966
Clippings, 1966
Correspondence, 1966
Miscellaneous documents, 1966
Program, April 16, 1966
Annual file, 1966-1967
Annual publications, 1966-1967
Articles, 1966-1967
Press releases, 1966-1967
Program (opening night performance), September 16, 1966
Annual file, 1967-1968
Annual publications, 1967-1968
Annual file. Rudolf Bing Gala Farewell, 1972
Annual publications, 1971-1972
Articles (Rudolf Bing), 1972
Clippings (Rudolf Bing), 1972
Clippings (Gentele, Chapin, Kubelik, Levine), 1972
Contract, February 20, 1972
Correspondence, 1972
Miscellaneous documents, 1972
Photographs, 1972
Printed music, 1972
Programs, April 22, 1972
Rehearsal schedules, April 21 , 1972
Annual file, 1972-1973
Annual publications, 1972-1973
Correspondence, 1972-1973
Annual file, 1973-1974
Annual publications and brochures, 1973-1974
Clippings, 1973-1974
Contract, 1973-1974
Correspondence, 1973-1974
Miscellaneous documents, 1973-1974
Programs (regular season), 1973-1974
Spring Tour. Itineraries, Spring 1974
Spring Tour. Programs, Spring 1974
Annual file, 1974-1975
Annual publications and brochures, 1974-1975
Clippings, 1974-1975
Contract, 1974-1975
Correspondence, 1974-1975
Miscellaneous documents, 1974-1975
Programs (regular season), 1974-1975
Rehearsals (pre-season), Summer-Fall 1974
Broadside programs, 1949-1974
Broadside programs (regular season), 1949-1950
Broadside programs (Spring Tour), 1950
Broadside programs (regular season), 1950-1951
Broadside programs (Spring Tour), 1951
Broadside programs (regular season), 1951-1952
Broadside programs (Spring Tour), 1952
Broadside programs (regular season), 1952-1953
Broadside programs (Spring Tour), 1953
Broadside programs (regular season), 1953-1954
Broadside programs (Spring Tour), 1954
Broadside programs (regular season), 1954-1955
Broadside programs (Spring Tour), 1955
Broadside programs (regular season), 1955-1956
Broadside programs (Spring Tour), 1956
Broadside programs (regular season), 1956-1957
Broadside programs (Spring Tour), 1957
Broadside programs (regular season), 1957-1958
Broadside programs (Spring Tour), 1958
Broadside programs (regular season), 1973-1974
Broadside programs (Spring Tour), 1974