Adler, Kurt (1907–1977)

Czech pianist and conductor. He studied at Vienna, and worked at the Berlin Staatsoper 1927–29 and at the German Opera, Prague, 1929–32. He conducted at the Kiev Opera and with the Stalingrad Philharmonic Orchestra after the Nazis came to power. In 1938 he moved to the USA, working first as a pianist and conductor at the New York Metropolitan Opera House 1951–73 (where he made his debut with Die Zauberflöte).

He should not be confused with his contemporary, the Austrian-born US conductor Kurt Herbert Adler, who also held operatic posts in the USA from the 1930s.