5000 Nights at the Opera

This book invites its readers on a journey inside the most important opera house in the world, taking them far beyond the lobbies and the auditoriums usually frequented by the public, behind the closed doors of the rooms and offices occupied by those who perform and – most importantly – run the Metropolitan Opera.

Jacek Marczyński, editor of the new Polish edition

Austrian by birth, a British citizen by naturalisation, in his time as the general manager of the Metropolitan Opera (1950– 1972), Rudolf Bing oversaw the Met's transition from an old-fashioned opera company to a modern theatre business fit for the 20th century. Eloquent, witty, competent, and exceptionally well organised, he engaged the first Afro-American singers to sing in the house (Marian Anderson, Leontyne Price), moved the Met to its new venue at Lincoln Center (1966), revolutionised its artistic administration and artists relations. At a time when e-mails and mobile phones were non-existent, he wrote letters: to everybody, about everything. In his correspondence he discussed: his troubles with moody conductors who can’t come to an agreement with stage directors and designers, diplomatic negotiations with singers overwhelmed by visas, deadlines, and the requirement to attend rehearsals, who present false doctor’s certificates (as non-digitally confirmed by their embassies), and who demand special treatment for their husbands, wives, children, dogs e tutti quanti. Rudolf Bing did not live to see the pre-eminent role computers were to play in the process of programming new seasons, managing theatre companies, establishing global connections, operating set and scenery, not to mention streaming productions to viewers across the world. But he did leave the Met ready for all of that.

Bing’s 5000 Nights at the Opera is a testament of the pre-Internet era of managing time, people, and programmes. The new, expanded edition realised 40 years since the original translation hit the bookshelves in Poland, contains an account of Sir Rudolf’s dramatic last years and Polish connections in the Met’s past and present.

Professor Ewa Łętowska 

The book includes conversations with Waldemar Dąbrowski, general manger of the Polish National Opera, Mariusz Treliński, stage director and artistic director of the Polish National Opera, and Roman Osadnik, director of the Studio Theatre in Warsaw.

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