Kubelik, (Jeroným) Rafael

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Kubelik, (Jeroným) Rafael (b Býchory, 1914; d Lucerne, 1996). Cz.-born conductor and composer (Swiss cit. 1966), son of Jan Kubelik. Début with Czech PO 1934; accompanist to father 1935–6; cond. Czech PO 1936–9, Brno Opera 1939–41, chief cond. Czech PO 1941–8. Left Cz. 1948, vowing never to return under Communism. Amer. début Chicago 1949. Salzburg Fest. début 1950 (Vienna PO). Cond. Chicago SO 1950–3; SW début 1954; mus. dir. CG 1955–8 (incl. f. stage ps. in Eng. of Jenůfa and Les Troyens); cond. Bavarian Radio SO 1961–79. Mus. dir. NY Met 1973–4. Retired 1985 but returned to Cz. 1990 in triumph (after its liberation from Communism) to cond. 2 perfs. of Má Vlást. Works incl. 2 syms.; 5 operas; 4 str. qts.; vn. conc.; vc. conc.; songs; chamber mus.