Kubelík, Rafael (1914-1996)

Czech conductor and composer. Son of Jan Kubelík, he studied at the Prague Conservatory, making his debut with the Czech Symphony Orchestra in 1934. From 1939 to 1941 he was conductor of the National Theatre in Brno and from 1942 to 1948 of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Between 1948 and 1950 he was often in England and in 1950 was appointed principal conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He returned to Europe in 1953 and became music director at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London (1955-58), conducting the first British Jenůfa there in 1956 and the first complete Les Troyens in 1957. In 1961 he became conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and in Vienna gave the first performance of Schoenberg's oratorio Die Jakobsleiter. He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York in 1973 with Les Troyens. He returned to Czechoslovakia in 1990, after the Velvet Revolution, and conducted Smetana's Ma Vlást to wide acclaim. He has also composed, and his works include the operas Veronika (1947) and Cornelia Faroli (on the life of Titian, 1972); a choral symphony; concertos for violin and for cello; a Requiem; and some chamber music.