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Cleveland Orchestra

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra from Cleveland, Ohio. It was founded in 1918 by the pianist and impresario Adella Prentiss Hughes, the businessman John L. Severance, Father John Powers, the critic Archie Bell and the violinist and conductor Nikolai Sokoloff, who became the first music director. The first concert was on 11 December 1918 at Grays Armory. The orchestra belongs to the Big Five, the five American orchestras that are often named as the best. Since 1931 it has played at Severance Hall. In 1921 it began children's concerts, a tradition that has continued, and in 1924 the first record appeared, an abridged version of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.

Music and breakthrough

The great name in its history is George Szell, who became the fourth music director in 1946. He wanted to make the best symphony orchestra in America and replaced many musicians to do so. His contract gave him complete artistic control. In 1957 the orchestra made a first European tour, also behind the Iron Curtain. Szell had the acoustics of Severance Hall adapted with the Szell Shell, to make the sound more balanced. Records from his time include Symphonies nos. 40 & 41 in 1956, Dvořák's Symphony no. 5 From the New World in 1957 and the four symphonies of Schumann in 1959.

Influence

The orchestra is known for its precision and ensemble playing. The current music director is Franz Welser-Möst. The Cleveland Orchestra shows how an orchestra in an industrial city grew into a world name, through strict rehearsal and a sound of its own.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Mozart's Symphonies nos. 40 & 41 under Szell and notice the tight ensemble playing of the strings. Try to hear how precisely the entries and chords coincide.

Discography

Studio albums

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