Gyorgy Endre Szell (1897 - 1970)

Born 7 Jun 1897 in Belváros-Lipótváros, Budapest, Hungary

Died 30 Jul 1970 at age 73 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States

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Biography

George Szell is Notable.

George Szell has Jewish Roots.

George Szell was a 20th-century world-famous teacher, composer, and most importantly the music director of the Cleveland Orchestra from 1946-1970.

Early Life before the Cleveland Orchestra

Originally named Gyorgy Endre Szell, was born on 7 June 1897 to parents Gyorgy Szell and Margit Hirschbein in Budapest, Hungary. He grew up in Vienna. His family was originally Jewish but converted to Catholicism .

George at the age of 7 was a gift prodigy pianist. At the age of 18 while living in Vienna, Richard Strass asked George to be a guest conductor for the Vienna Symphony. Later years, he was guest conductors to other famous symphonies such as Germany and Scotland.

'HIs two marriages

1. Olga Band (1898-1984) Married 15 June 1930 Marcall, Hungary. Divorced 1926
2. Helen Schultz (1899-1991) Married 25 Jan 1938 Glasgow, Scotland.

In 1941,George was naturalized in New York City, New York to be a citizen of the United States. .^[1]

His Career before the Cleveland Orchestra (1942-1945)

In 1942, the world famous conductor, Maestro Arturo Tosconini ask Mr Szell to be a guest conductor for his NBC Symphony Orchestra. Mr.Szell accept the position. The Maestro helped George learn how to become a classical conductor. He later became the Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

Music Director for the Cleveland Orchestra.

• For 24 years, Maestro George Szell was the Music Director for the Cleveland Orchestra from 1946 until his death in 1970. He had a heart attack and stayed in the hospital until he death. The Cleveland Orchestra was about to go on a tour of the Far East that year.

1946 changed the lives of the musicians and the people of Cleveland forever when Maestro George Szell took the baton in his hands and became the Music Director. Why would I say this. Back when the Cleveland Orchestra was born in 1918. Back then, the performance was strictly for upper class as most of us thought. They would play at the Grays Armory, built in 1837. Finally in 1921, they started having young people's concerts, so they could learn more about their Cleveland Orchestra. They started to tour around the United states staring in New York's Carnegie Hall in 1922. They started to record their music. Finally the Music Arts Association, who owned the Orchestra, needed a bigger more powerful place to become their permeant home. On February 5 1931, the Orchestra preformed its inaugural concert at Severance Hall. The Orchestra had 3 other European born Music Directors before Maestro George Szell took the baton. His was very strict in his mannerisms and he disciplined his musicians. They had many extra rehearsals and he even fired some key players when he took over in 1946. But with his conducting, they became what is today of the best orchestra in the world in my opinion.

His love of music to the people of Cleveland

Mr Szell loved his adopted city of Cleveland and the members of the Cleveland Orchestra. His long time mission was to stage year-round performances thus ensure employment for his musicians. During the 1950's the Cleveland Orchestra played their summer concerts inside the downtown Public Hall and they played on the outfield of the old Cleveland Stadium before the "Indians" took to the field. But everything changed in 1964, Mr Szell wanted a summer home like Boston's Tanglewood. In July 1966, the Musical Arts Association, decided to purchase 571 acres of land in Cuyahoga Falls, approximately 10 miles from Akron^[2],about 30 miles south of Cleveland. The Association had fundraising campaigns to raise over $6.6 Million and ground was broken on July 2 1967. Blossom Music Center had its first inaugural classical performance featuring "Beethoven's Ninth Symphony" and other guest singers, conducted by Maestro Szell on July19, 1968. It was a live local television broadcast. I was one of many1,000's Clevelander's who tuned in to view our new Cleveland Orchestra's summer home. They had various famous conductor come while Mr Szell was away conducting European symphonies. Conductors come to Blossom were many just to name a few Arthur Fedler, John Williams, Meredth Wilson ect. Its also the venue for rock, folk and country. They had to renovate after 24,00+ rock concert goer tried to get in and out of Blossom's parking lots. It only holds 20,000 inside the pavilion and on the grassy areas. So in 2003, they remolded everything from stage, grounds to parking lots. Later in 2010, they added BIG screens so the folks on the grass could see the performers and watch Mr Szell conduct. Also like other cities, they added feature movies. The Orchestra would play the soundtrack. I am also on the grass listening to the music while enjoying my food and drinks. Its a very special place to be on a warm summer's night listening and looking up at the stars. They added in 2011, 580 acres of land from the National Park Service The Porthouse was born. This venue was added for folks in this area could see musicals, plays ect without going to downtown Cleveland. This venue only runs during the summer months.^[3]

George's ashes were scattered over his memorial in Arlington Memorial Park, Sandy Springs, Fulton County, Georgia, United States with a death date of 30 July 1970.^[4]

Local and nationwide newspapers about the death of George Szell.

• 1946 Newspaper: "Newspapers.com"
  Enakopravnost (Cleveland, Ohio) Fri, Oct 11, 1946, page 5
  Newspapers Clip: 143491905 (accessed 16 March 2024) This article tells everyone to come see the opening symphonies at Severence Hall. Tickets are going fast.

• 1946 Newspaper: "Newspapers.com"
  Enakopravnost (Cleveland, Ohio) Fri, Sep 20, 1946, page 4
  Newspapers Clip: 143491176 (accessed 16 March 2024) The Cleveland Orchestra cuts tour short in order to provide extra days for the Opening of their new season.

• 1951 Newspaper: "Newspapers.com"
  Dirva: Field (Cleveland, Ohio) Thu, Nov 15, 1951, page 7
  Newspapers Clip: 143491542 (accessed 16 March 2024) Hungarian newspaper telling everyone to come see George Szell preform at Severance Hall, Cleveland, Ohio. The articles states what he will be conducting that night.

• Obituary: "UK and Ireland, Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current"
  Birmingham Evening Mail; Publication Date: 31 Jul 1970; Publication Place: Birmingham, West Midlands, England; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/854525443/?article=cc4ef4aa-cf56-4cbf-84a9-18e172dcefcf&focus=0.021599099,0.7472818,0.1374452,0.8429895&xid=3355
  Ancestry Record 62221 #130650990 (accessed 16 March 2024)
  Gender: Male; Obituary Date: 31 Jul 1970; Residence Place: New York; Obituary Place: Birmingham, West Midlands, England; Newspaper Title: Birmingham Evening Mail; Birth Date: abt 1897; Death Age: 73; Death Place: Cleveland; Name: George Szell; Death Date: Abt 1970.

Research Notes

I saw him play many times at Severance Hall. home of the Cleveland Orchestra. He made the Cleveland Orchestra famous thought out the world during his amazing career.

Sources

1. ↑ Record of George Szell: "New York, U.S. District and Circuit Court Naturalization Records, 1824-1991"
   citing Affiliate Publication Title: Southern District of New York Petitions for Naturalization, 1897-1944. Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685 - 2009, RG 21. National Archives at New York.; Affiliate Publication Number: M1972; Digital film/folder number: 007314480; Image number: 235
   FamilySearch Record: 87WK-JK2M (accessed 16 March 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G9HN-V77L
   Name: George Szell; Birth Date: 7 Jun 1897; Birth Place: Budapest, Hungary; Naturalization Date: 1941; Naturalization Place: New York, United States; Age: 48 years; Source Certificate Nbr: 531781; Record Nbr: 0; Vis Status: VISIBLE; System Of Record: SLS.
2. ↑ Wikipedia entry: Wikipedia contributors, "Akron, Ohio"
   Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (accessed 17 March 2024)
3. ↑ Wikipedia entry: Wikipedia contributors, "Blossom Music Center"
   Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (accessed 17 March 2024)
4. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #6842150 (accessed 16 March 2024)
   Memorial page for George Szell (7 Jun 1897-30 Jul 1970), citing Arlington Memorial Park, Sandy Springs, Fulton County, Georgia, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.

• Book: Saleski, Gdal, 1888-, Famous musicians of Jewish origin
  New York, Bloch Pub. Co., 1949; page: 302
  HathiTrust Pages 301-303. George Szell's bio.

• [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.c2993580&seq=26 George Szell mentions in the Calendar of Musical Activities in the U.S. of America 1959/60 pg 26.

• United States. President's Music Committee of the People-to-People Program. Calendar of Musical Activities In the U.S. of America

See Also:

• George Szell

• Wikidata: Item Q310638, en:Wikipedia

• Still Second to None His fellow musicians

• George Szell Cleveland Orchestra stories

• Blossom Music Center and George Szell

• George Szell Bio

• Cleveland Memories George Szell

• George Szell master talent

• AllMusic

Recordings

• George Szell's records

• Classical recorded by George Szell