What's in a name? Julius Rudel, the former general director and principal conductor of the New York City Opera, had an answer for that question at City Hall when Mayor Rudolph Giuliani declared Julius Rudel Day.
"There is a mysterious, almost connection between us," said Rudel, who was celebrating his 75th birthday. "When I was a student at the Mannes College of Music, I figured I needed some practical experience, so I started to conduct for one of the small opera companies that existed around New York at the time. It was suggested that maybe I should change my name and maybe Italianize it to go with the ambiance."I decided to take my name and turn it around and make it Rudolfo di Giulio," he continued. "Now if I had had foresight, I would have made it Rudolfo Giuliani."
And how did Rudel spend his birthday? He conducted "Madama Butterfly" at the Metropolitan Opera.