Rudolph Bing

Sir Rudolph Bing (January 9, 1902 – September 2, 1997) was an Austrian-born opera impresario. Bing was General Manager of the New York Metropolitan Opera from 1950-1972.

Related Topics:
January 9 - 1902 - September 2 - 1997 - Opera - Impresario - New York Metropolitan Opera

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Born Rudolf Bing in Vienna, Austro-Hungarian Empire to a well-to-do and musical family, 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.

Related Topics:
Vienna - Austro-Hungarian Empire - University of Vienna - 1927 - Berlin - Germany - Darmstadt

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1934, with the rise of Nazi Germany, Bing moved to Great Britain where, in 1946 he became a British subject. There he helped to found the Glyndebourne Festival and, after the war, organized the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland.

Related Topics:
1934 - Nazi Germany - Great Britain - 1946 - Glyndebourne Festival - Edinburgh Festival

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1949 he went to the United States, where he was appointed general manager of the Met the following year. During his tenure, he opened the house to African-Americans, with Leontyne Price as the most prominent example. He also supervised the move of the old Metropolitan to its new quarters in Lincoln Center.

Related Topics:
1949 - United States - Tenure - Leontyne Price - Lincoln Center

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Knighted in 1971; Bing wrote two books, 5000 Nights at the Opera and A Knight at the Opera. He died of respiratory failure in Yonkers, New York (some sources indicated The Bronx, New York), at the age of 95 from natural causes at a Jewish old-age home.

Related Topics:
1971 - Respiratory failure - Yonkers, New York - The Bronx, New York

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~