 The new association went through several management changes before it hired Rudolf Kruger as the musical director in 1955.Under Kruger's guidance, Fort Worth Opera went on to become an arts company of note, especially during the 1960s, when it helped launch the careers of Plácido Domingo and Beverly Sills.In 1982, the Fort Worth Opera executive board moved to reduce Kruger's responsibilities and began searching for a new managing director.