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.