Auguste Rodin - Gustav Mahler - Büste von Auguste Rodin.

The Metropolitan Opera was founded in 1883, with its first opera house built on Broadway and 39th Street by a group of wealthy businessmen who wanted their own theater. In the company’s early years, the management changed course several times, first performing everything in Italian (even Carmen and Lohengrin), then everything in German (even Aida and Faust), before finally settling into a policy of performing most works in their original language, with some notable exceptions. The Metropolitan Opera has always engaged many of the world’s most important artists: Christine Nilsson, Marcella Sembrich, Lilli Lehmann, Nellie Melba, Emma Calvé, De Reszke brothers, Jean and Edouard, Emma Eames, Lillian Nordica, Enrico Caruso, Geraldine Farrar, Rosa Ponselle, Lawrence Tibbett and more. Some of the great conductors have helped shape the Met: Anton Seidl, Arturo Toscanini, Gustav Mahler, Artur Bodanzky, Bruno Walter, George Szell, Fritz Reiner, and Dimitri Mitropoulos.

Born in Paris, Rodin showed an early talent for drawing. He attended the École des Arts Décoratifs and later the École des Beaux-Arts, but was dissatisfied with the traditional methods of sculpture taught there. Instead, he sought inspiration from the works of Michelangelo and Donatello, as well as the naturalism of the Romantic movement. Rodin's sculptures were characterised by their expressiveness and focus on the human form. He often depicted his subjects in motion or in moments of intense emotion, such as his famous sculpture The Thinker. Rodin was also known for his use of rough surfaces and unfinished textures, which gave his sculptures a sense of raw vitality. Despite his revolutionary approach to sculpture, Rodin faced criticism from the art establishment throughout his career. His work was initially rejected by the Salon, the official art exhibition of the French Academy, and he struggled to find patrons who would support his unconventional style. By the turn of the century, however, Rodin had become one of Europe's most celebrated artists, and his influence on modern sculpture cannot be overstated. Today, Rodin's sculptures can be found in museums and public spaces around the world, including the Musée Rodin in Paris and the Rodin Museum in Philadelphia. His legacy continues to inspire sculptors and artists of all kinds.