Artur Bodanzky

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Artur Bodanzky (also written as Artur Bodzansky) (born December 16, 1877 in Vienna, died 23 November 1939 in New York) was an Austrian-American conductor particularly associated with the operas of Wagner. After studying the violin he became conducting assistant to Gustav Mahler in Vienna, later going on to jobs in Berlin, Prague and Mannheim. In 1915 he emigrated to the United States to work for the Metropolitan Opera, being replaced at Mannheim by Wilhelm Furtwängler. He was head of German repertory at the Met. In 1928, Bodanzky announced his resignation from the Met and was replaced by Joseph Rosenstock. However, Rosenstock received such criticism in the press that he himself resigned almost immediately on medical advice, and Bodanzky was rehired, and remained at the Met until his death. Bodanzky was renowned for fast tempi, and it was sometimes suggested that he was eager to finish the opera in time to play cards.