George Szell

Composers

Biography

Born: June 7, 1897; Hungary   Died: July 30, 1970; USA   Period: 20th Century
Part of the wave of great Hungarian conductors who took over American musical life just before and after World War II -- the others included Fritz Reiner, Antal Dorati, and Eugene Ormandy -- George Szell quickly transformed a middling Midwestern orchestra into one of the nation's Big Five. His cultivation of the Cleveland Orchestra set an example of discipline and hard work that gradually helped raise the standards of orchestras across America. Read more
Although born in Hungary, Szell was raised in Vienna where he studied composition with Eusebius Mandyczewski, and piano with Richard Robert; he also studied composition in Prague with J.B. Foerster. Szell was a wunderkind, playing a Mozart piano concerto with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra when he was ten, and composing a number of solid chamber and orchestral works in a lush, late Romantic style as a child and teenager. He was 17 when he conducted the Berlin Philharmonic in a program that included one of his own compositions.
Despite these early successes, Szell rose through the conducting ranks in the traditional way of the period, with a series of opera positions: Royal Opera of Berlin (1915-1917), Strasbourg (1917-1918), Prague (1919-1921), Darmstadt (1921-1922), and Düsseldorf (1922-1924). Szell's first prestigious post came to him in 1924, when he was named first conductor of the Berlin State Opera; he simultaneously served as a professor at Berlin's Hochschule für Musik. In 1929, he moved on to become general music director of the German Opera and Philharmonic in Prague, where he remained until 1937.
Szell began focusing more on orchestral repertory in the 1930s; he made his U.S. debut as guest conductor of the St. Louis Symphony in 1930, and in 1937 he was appointed conductor of the Scottish Orchestra in Glasgow, while maintaining a steady relationship with the Residentie Orkest in The Hague. Szell was in America in 1939 when war broke out in Europe; he remained in the U.S. through the war, first depending on guest engagements and then, in 1942, becoming a regular conductor at the Metropolitan Opera, where he was especially praised for his Wagner performances. In 1946 Szell took American citizenship and became music director of the Cleveland Orchestra, a post he held for 24 years. He was also the New York Philharmonic's music advisor and senior guest conductor during the last two years of his life.
Although Szell made a recordings in Europe in the 1950s and 1960s for Decca, and in Cleveland at the end of his life for EMI, the bulk of his substantial discography was the result of his long collaboration with Columbia Records in Cleveland. There, Szell had inherited an able but ordinary orchestra and, through sheer determination, molded it into one of America's finest. A Szell performance was remarkable for its textural clarity, chamber-like balances, and precision of attack and release. He drilled his orchestra mercilessly, even in works it had performed with him not long before. Szell was particularly admired for his performances of Austro-Germanic classics from Haydn to Richard Strauss, his sharp renderings of works by a select group of twentieth century composers including Bartók, Prokofiev, Janácek, and Walton), and his idiomatic way with Dvorák. Indeed, some collectors maintain that Szell's monaural, early 1950s recording of Dvorák's Eighth Symphony with the Concertgebouw Orchestra has never been equaled. His treatment of French composers, on the other hand, was criticized for its lack of atmosphere, and detractors maintained that he achieved precision at the expense of emotional expression. To those who demanded a warmer approach to his beloved Mozart, however, Szell is said to have retorted, "One does not pour chocolate sauce over asparagus." Read less

Featured George Szell CDs & DVDs:

George Szell conducts Beethoven
George Szell conducts Beethoven
Release Date: 05/12/2017   Label: Sony  
Catalog: 88883737152   Number of Discs: 5
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Browse 51-75 of 163 Available Recordings
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  • 51.
    Berlitz Passport - The Music Of Germany
    Berlitz Passport - The Music Of Germany
    Label: Sony Classical Masterworks   Catalog: 47276 Release Date: 10/20/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Carl Orff,  Richard Wagner,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Ludwig van Beethoven  ... 
    Performer:  William Wildermann,  Emilia Cundari,  Albert Da Costa,  Nell Rankin
    Conductor:  Michael Tilson Thomas,  Leonard Bernstein,  Eugene Ormandy,  Andre Kostelanetz  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cleveland Orchestra,  Cleveland Orchestra Boys Choir,  Cleveland Orchestra Chorus  ... 
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  • 52.
    Berlitz Passport - The Music Of Eastern Europe
    Berlitz Passport - The Music Of Eastern Europe
    Label: Sony Classical Masterworks   Catalog: 47283 Release Date: 10/02/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Antonín Dvorák,  Franz Liszt,  Johannes Brahms,  Jaromir Weinberger  ... 
    Performer:  Earl Wild
    Conductor:  Sir Andrew Davis,  Andre Kostelanetz,  Leonard Bernstein,  George Szell  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philharmonia Orchestra,  Columbia Symphony Orchestra,  New York Philharmonic  ... 
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  • 53.
    Smetana: Moldau, Bartered Bride Etc / Szell, Cleveland
    Smetana: Moldau, Bartered Bride Etc / Szell, Cleveland
    Label: Cbs Great Performances   Catalog: 36716 Release Date: 08/19/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Antonín Dvorák,  Bedrich Smetana
    Conductor:  George Szell
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cleveland Orchestra
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  • 54.
    Schubert: Symphony no 9
    Schubert: Symphony no 9 "Great" / Szell, Cleveland Orchestra
    Label: Cbs Great Performances   Catalog: 37239 Release Date: 06/25/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Schubert
    Conductor:  George Szell
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cleveland Orchestra
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  • 55.
    Heritage Masters - Brahms: Piano Concertos / Curzon
    Heritage Masters - Brahms: Piano Concertos / Curzon
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 001268202 Release Date: 03/31/2009   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Clifford Curzon
    Conductor:  George Szell,  Hans Knappertsbusch
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Symphony Orchestra,  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 56.
    The Record of Singing Vol 5 - From the LP to the Digital Era
    The Record of Singing Vol 5 - From the LP to the Digital Era
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 28949 Release Date: 03/10/2009   Number of Discs: 10
    Composer:  Ralph Vaughan Williams,  Jacques Offenbach,  Georges Bizet,  Giuseppe Verdi  ... 
    Performer:  John Shirley-Quirk,  Luciana Serra,  Neil Shicoff,  Alain Vanzo  ... 
    Conductor:  Sir David Willcocks,  Sylvain Cambreling,  Georges Prętre,  Herbert von Karajan  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  English Chamber Orchestra,  Brussels Théâtre de la Monnaie Orchestra,  Paris Opera Orchestra  ... 
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  • 57.
    Beethoven: Symphony No 5; Sibelius: Symphony No 2 / Szell
    Beethoven: Symphony No 5; Sibelius: Symphony No 2 / Szell
    Label: Philips   Catalog: 420771 Release Date: 01/07/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Jean Sibelius
    Conductor:  George Szell
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
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  • 58.
    George Szell - Salzburg Concert 1957 - Mozart, Debussy, Beethoven, Mendelssohn
    George Szell - Salzburg Concert 1957 - Mozart, Debussy, Beethoven, Mendelssohn
    Label: Orfeo D'or   Catalog: 774083 Release Date: 10/28/2008   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Felix Mendelssohn,  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Claude Debussy,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  Nathan Milstein,  Leon Fleisher
    Conductor:  George Szell
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 59.
    Brahms: Piano Concerto No 1, 2 Intermezzos / Curzon, Szell
    Brahms: Piano Concerto No 1, 2 Intermezzos / Curzon, Szell
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 417641 Release Date: 10/15/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms
    Performer:  Clifford Curzon
    Conductor:  George Szell
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Symphony Orchestra
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  • 60.
    Elgar, Dvorak: Cello Concertos / Fournier, Szell, Rosabud
    Elgar, Dvorak: Cello Concertos / Fournier, Szell, Rosabud
    Label: Medici Masters   Catalog: 28-2 Release Date: 09/30/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Sir Edward Elgar,  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Antonín Dvorák
    Performer:  Pierre Fournier
    Conductor:  Hans Rosbaud,  George Szell
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra
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  • 61.
    David Oistrakh - The Complete EMI Recordings
    David Oistrakh - The Complete EMI Recordings
    Label: Warner Classics   Catalog: 14712 Release Date: 09/16/2008   Number of Discs: 17
    Composer:  Franz Schubert,  Giuseppe Tartini,  Karen Khachaturian,  Eugčne Ysa˙e  ... 
    Performer:  Jacov Shapiro,  Joseph Stidel,  Joseph Gertovich,  Mikhail Terian  ... 
    Conductor:  Nicolai Malko,  Aram Khachaturian,  Maxim Shostakovich,  Lovro von Matacic  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philharmonia Orchestra,  New Philharmonia Orchestra,  London Symphony Orchestra  ... 
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  • 62.
    Tchaikovsky: Symphony No 4; Beethoven: Egmont / Szell, Lso
    Tchaikovsky: Symphony No 4; Beethoven: Egmont / Szell, Lso
    Label: London/Decca Historic Series   Catalog: 425972 Release Date: 09/16/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Performer:  Pilar Lorengar
    Conductor:  George Szell
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,  London Symphony Orchestra
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  • 63.
    Bartok: Piano Concerto No 1, Miraculous Mandarin,Etc/Ormandy
    Bartok: Piano Concerto No 1, Miraculous Mandarin,Etc/Ormandy
    Label: Cbs Masterworks Portrait   Catalog: 46446 Release Date: 06/05/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Béla Bartók
    Performer:  Rudolf Serkin,  Anshel Brusilow
    Conductor:  George Szell,  Eugene Ormandy
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cleveland Orchestra,  Philadelphia Orchestra
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  • 64.
    Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 29 & 40; Piano Concerto No. 25
    Label: Archipel   Catalog: 398 Release Date: 01/29/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  Leon Fleisher
    Conductor:  George Szell
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  • 65.
    The Essential Leon Fleisher
    The Essential Leon Fleisher
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 721581 Release Date: 01/15/2008   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Johannes Brahms,  Franz Schubert  ... 
    Performer:  Leon Fleisher,  Raphael Hillyer,  Isidore Cohen,  Robert Mann  ... 
    Conductor:  George Szell,  Seiji Ozawa
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cleveland Orchestra,  Juilliard String Quartet,  Boston Symphony Orchestra
    CD: $18.99
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  • 66.
    Kodaly: Hary Janos Suite; Prokofiev: Lt Kije Suite / Szell
    Kodaly: Hary Janos Suite; Prokofiev: Lt Kije Suite / Szell
    Label: Cbs Great Performances   Catalog: 38527 Release Date: 01/11/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Zoltán Kodály,  Sergei Prokofiev
    Conductor:  George Szell
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cleveland Orchestra
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  • 67.
    Mozart: Piano Concertos No 20 & 27 / Serkin, Ormandy, Szell
    Mozart: Piano Concertos No 20 & 27 / Serkin, Ormandy, Szell
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 26 Release Date: 12/12/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  Rudolf Serkin
    Conductor:  George Szell,  Eugene Ormandy
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Columbia Symphony Orchestra,  Philadelphia Orchestra
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  • 68.
    Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Plays Strauss 1929 - 1990
    Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Plays Strauss 1929 - 1990
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 435335 Release Date: 11/13/2007   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Strauss Jr.,  Josef Strauss,  Johann Strauss Sr.
    Conductor:  Erich Kleiber,  Clemens Krauss,  George Szell,  Herbert von Karajan  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 69.
    Festspieldokumente - Salzburger Orchesterkonzerte / Szell
    Festspieldokumente - Salzburger Orchesterkonzerte / Szell
    Label: Orfeo D'or   Catalog: 704077 Release Date: 10/30/2007   Number of Discs: 7
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Richard Strauss,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Christoph W. Gluck  ... 
    Performer:  Clifford Curzon,  Rudolf Firkusny
    Conductor:  George Szell
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Dresden Staatskapelle,  Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra,  Czech Philharmonic Orchestra  ... 
    On sale! $74.99
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  • 70.
    Mozart: Piano Concertos; Weber: Konzertstuck / Casadesus
    Mozart: Piano Concertos; Weber: Konzertstuck / Casadesus
    Label: Medici Masters   Catalog: 10-2 Release Date: 10/30/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Carl Maria von Weber,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  Robert Casadesus
    Conductor:  Romanus Hubertus,  George Szell
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cologne West German Radio Symphony Orchestra
    CD: $15.99
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  • 71.
    The Premium Collection - 75 Classical Masterworks
    The Premium Collection - 75 Classical Masterworks
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 000988602 Release Date: 10/09/2007   Number of Discs: 6
    Composer:  Johann Pachelbel,  Edvard Grieg,  Camille Saint-Saëns,  Gabriel Fauré  ... 
    Performer:  Alfons Kontarsky,  Aloys Kontarsky,  Wolfgang Herzer,  Göran Söllscher  ... 
    Conductor:  Baumgartner,  Neeme Järvi,  Seiji Ozawa,  Rafael Kubelik  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Lucerne Festival Strings
    On sale! $47.98
    CD: $39.99
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  • 72.
    Prima Diva
    Prima Diva
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 55095 Release Date: 08/06/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Andrew Lloyd Webber,  Gioachino Rossini,  Johann Strauss Jr.,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart  ... 
    Performer:  Barbara Hendricks,  Ola Samnegĺrd,  Maria Callas,  Cheryl Studer  ... 
    Conductor:  Eric Ericson,  Alceo Galliera,  John Barker,  Riccardo Muti  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Eric Ericson Chamber Choir,  Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra members,  Philharmonia Orchestra  ... 
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  • 73.
    The Rostropovich Edition - Dvorak, Brahms, Haydn
    The Rostropovich Edition - Dvorak, Brahms, Haydn
    Label: Warner Classics   Catalog: 65701 Release Date: 08/06/2007   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Antonín Dvorák,  Franz Joseph Haydn,  Ernest Bloch,  Richard Strauss  ... 
    Performer:  Mstislav Rostropovich,  Ulrich Koch,  David Oistrakh
    Conductor:  Carlo Maria Giulini,  Mstislav Rostropovich,  Leonard Bernstein,  Herbert von Karajan  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Philharmonic Orchestra,  Academy of St. Martin in the Fields,  ORTF National Orchestra  ... 
    On sale! $33.98
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  • 74.
    Best Beethoven 100
    Best Beethoven 100
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 97307 Release Date: 07/31/2007   Number of Discs: 6
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer:  Eric Heidsieck,  Paul Tortelier,  Stephen Kovacevich,  Siegfried Rudolf Frese  ... 
    Conductor:  Herbert von Karajan,  Wolfgang Sawallisch,  Riccardo Muti,  Jeffrey Tate  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philharmonia Orchestra,  Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra,  Nash Ensemble  ... 
    CD: $19.99
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  • 75.
    Mozart: Piano Concertos No 23 & 24, K 365 / Casadesus
    Mozart: Piano Concertos No 23 & 24, K 365 / Casadesus
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 63037 Release Date: 06/15/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  Robert Casadesus,  Gaby Casadesus
    Conductor:  Eugene Ormandy,  George Szell
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philadelphia Orchestra,  Cleveland Orchestra,  Columbia Symphony Orchestra
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