![[Rodzinski Picture]](Rodzinski_A_01.JPG)
Rodzinski, Artur
Musical director and conductor. Born in Spalato on the Dalmatian coast of the Adriatic on Jan. 2, 1894, where his Polish father had been sent on a military assignment. Although he showed an early inclination for music, his father thought that he was best suited for the law. Attended the University of Vienna and was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Law. While in Vienna studied music at the Musical Academy, and when he left Vienna, he went with the determination to he a musician, not a lawyer. In Poland he made his debut as a conductor at the Lwow Opera House, directing Verdi's "Ernani" in 1921. His next engagement was at the Warsaw Opera, where for five years he was a leading figure. He also directed the Warsaw Philharmonic during these years. At the invitation of Leopold Stokowski, he came to U.S. and became associate conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. In Philadelphia he was also director of the orchestral and operatic departments of the Curtis Institute of Music and helped in the development of the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company. During this period he was guest conductor in New York, Detroit and Rochester. He left Philadelphia to take over the leadership of the Los Angeles Philharmonic where he conducted for four seasons until the Spring of 1933. His next post was at the head of the Cleveland Orchestra, where he remained for ten years. Has also conducted in Salzburg, Budapest. Vienna and Paris. When the NBC Symphony Orchestra was being organized, he was invited by Mr. Toscanini to select and rehearse the new ensemble, and he appeared as guest leader of this orchestra. He has made many recordings with the Cleveland Orchestra; has an honorary degree of Doctor of Music from Oberlin College, the cross of "Polonia Restituta" from Poland and the Diploma d'Honneur from France. Married to the former Halina Lilpop, grandniece of Henri Wisniewski, the famous Polish violinist-composer. Appointed musical director and conductor of the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra beginning with the season of 1943-44. He makes his permanent home in Stockbridge, Mass.
From: "Who's Who in Polish America" by Rev. Francis Bolek, Editor-in-Chief; Harbinger House, New York, 1943
Rodzinski, Artur -- conductor
Artur Rodzinski (1891-1958) debuted as a conductor in Lvov, Poland in 1921 and then moved on to conduct the orchestra at the Great Theater in Warsaw. In 1926, Rodzinski was named assistant to Leopold Stokowski of the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. In 1929, Rodzinski was named conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. He played a major role in the musical history of the United States as organizer of the Cleveland Symphony and conductor of the New York Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony. He was the head of the Opera and Orchestra in Philadelphia, which introduced important innovations of presenting opera in concert form.
From: Wally West