Spartan Profiles: Kevin Rhodes
EUROPEAN CONDUCTOR
Since he arrived in Basel, Switzerland, in 1991, he has conducted nearly 300 performances with eight European orchestras, including the famed Vienna Philharmonic. It's a childhood dream come true for Kevin Rhodes, '87, now principal ballet conductor for the Vienna State Opera and resident conductor for the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in DÙsseldorf. 'Ever since I was 14,' recalls the native of Evansville, IN, 'I've wanted to take the paths of conductors like Szell, Walter and Solti. They were masters whose work all spoke to me, and they all conducted in Europe.'
Looking for conducting experience, Rhodes roamed to Kentucky and met Leon Gregorian, who recommended MSU. 'After my freshman year at MSU, Leon came back as director of the MSU Symphony Orchestra and I became his assistant,' recalls Kevin, who met wife Jane (Young), '87, on campus. 'MSU was super--a big university, at first intimidating, but a great training ground for dealing with life. The School of Music and the Theatre Dept. were not so huge that one could get lost.'
After MSU, for his master's thesis at the University of Illinois, he performed Don Juan, a Richard Strauss tone poem. By 'sheer luck,' someone in the audience was impressed enough to recommend him to the music director for Basel, where he then auditioned as pianist and conductor. Kevin loves his current work. 'Every time I go there (the Vienna State Operahouse), it's still a thrill,' he says.
His schedule, however, is 'inhuman and insane.' During a rare break at his Swiss home, he recalls, 'Last Friday I conducted in Vienna. Saturday night it was DÙsseldorf. Monday night it was Vienna again. Next week we have rehearsals in DÙsseldorf.'
Fortunately, much of his work revolves around his favorite composer, Richard Strauss. Recently he conducted works like Der Rosenkavalier, Salome, and Die Frau Ohne Schatten. 'I love his operas,' he says. 'They are big, mammoth pieces.'
