George Szell: A Life of Music (Music in American Life)

This book is the first full biography of George Szell, one of the greatest orchestra and opera conductors of the twentieth century. From child prodigy pianist and composer to world-renowned conductor, Szell's career spanned seven decades, and he led most of the great orchestras and opera companies of the world, including the New York Philharmonic, the NBC and Chicago Symphonies, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic and Opera, and the Concertgebouw Orchestra. A protégé of composer-conductor Richard Strauss at the Berlin State Opera, his crowning achievement was his twenty-four-year tenure as musical director of the Cleveland Orchestra, transforming it into one of the world's greatest ensembles, touring triumphantly in the United States, Europe, the Soviet Union, South Korea, and Japan. Michael Charry, a conductor who worked with Szell and interviewed him, his family, and his associates over several decades, draws on this first-hand material and correspondence, orchestra records, reviews, and other archival sources to construct a lively and balanced portrait of Szell's life and work from his birth in 1897 in Budapest to his death in 1970 in Cleveland. Readers will follow Szell from his career in Europe, Great Britain, and Australia to his guest conducting at the New York Philharmonic and his distinguished tenure at the Metropolitan Opera and Cleveland Orchestra. Charry details Szell's personal and musical qualities, his recordings and broadcast concerts, his approach to the great works of the orchestral repertoire, and his famous orchestrational changes and interpretation of the symphonies of Robert Schumann. The book also lists Szell's conducting repertoire and includes a comprehensive discography. In highlighting Szell's legacy as a teacher and mentor as well as his contributions to orchestral and opera history, this biography will be of lasting interest to concert-goers, music lovers, conductors, musicians inspired by Szell's many great performances, and new generations who will come to know those performances through Szell's recorded legacy. From child prodigy pianist & composer to world-renowned conductor, Szell's career spanned seven decades, & he led most of the great orchestras & opera companies of the world, including the New York Philharmonic, the NBC and Chicago Symphonies, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic & Opera, & the Concertgebouw Orchestra. A protégé of composer-conductor Richard Strauss at the Berlin State Opera, his crowning achievement was his 24-year tenure as musical director of the Cleveland Orchestra, transforming it into one of the world's greatest ensembles, touring triumphantly in the U.S., Europe, the Soviet Union, South Korea, & Japan. Michael Charry, a conductor who worked with Szell & interviewed him, his family, & his associates over several decades, draws on this first-hand material & correspondence, orchestra records, reviews, & other archival sources to construct a lively & balanced portrait of Szell's life & work from his birth in 1897 in Budapest to his death in 1970 in Cleveland. Readers will follow Szell from his career in Europe, Great Britain, & Australia to his guest conducting at the New York Philharmonic & his distinguished tenure at the Metropolitan Opera & Cleveland Orchestra. Charry details Szell's personal & musical qualities, his recordings & broadcast concerts, his approach to the great works of the orchestral repertoire, & his famous orchestrational changes & interpretation of the symphonies of Robert Schumann. The book also lists Szell's conducting repertoire & includes a comprehensive discography. In highlighting Szell's legacy as a teacher & mentor as well as his contributions to orchestral & opera history, this biography will be of lasting interest to concert-goers, music lovers, conductors, musicians inspired by Szell's many great performances, & new generations who will come to know those performances through Szell's recorded legacy. Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright 5 Contents 8 Preface 10 Acknowledgments 16 Abbreviations 20 Chronology 22 Introduction 26 1. The New Mozart (1897-1929) 28 2. The Conductor Spreads His Wings (1930-38) 48 3. Musical Pioneering in Australia (1938, 1939) 67 4. New World, New Beginnings (1939-46) 81 5. Cleveland: Contest and Commitment (1942-47) 103 Illustrations follow page 104. 130 6. Szell, the Orchestra Builder (1947-54) 148 7. George Szell and Rudolf Bing (1953-54) 184 8. Keeping the Promise: "Second to None" (1954-57) 192 9. The Golden Years (1957-65) 215 10. The Cleveland Orchestra in the World (1965-68) 266 11. Summers at Home 297 12. Finale: Cleveland, Japan, Korea, Anchorage, Cleveland (1968-70) 313 Epilogue 332 In Szell's Words 334 Appendix A. On the 150th Anniversary of Schumann's Birth 338 Appendix B. Staff and Kulas Foundation Conductors under George Szell 342 Appendix C. Apprentice Conductor Qualifications 344 Appendix D. 1957 European Tour Repertoire 346 Appendix E. 1965 European Tour Repertoire 348 Appendix F. Szell's Repertoire 350 Discography 374 Notes 398 Bibliography 440 Index 442 Chronicles the life of George Szell, describing his accomplishments as a twentieth-century orchestra and opera conductor, and discussing his personal and musical qualities, his approach to great orchestral works and interpretation of the symphonies of Robert Schumann, and his career with the New York Philharmonic, the NBC and Chicago Symphonies, the Berlin Philharmonic, and other prestigious ensembles