Cleveland Orchestra

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The Cleveland Orchestra

Background information
Origin Cleveland, Ohio
Genre(s) Classical
Occupation(s) Symphony orchestra
Years active 1918-present
Associated acts Cleveland Orchestra Chorus
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (COYO)
Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus(COYC)
Cleveland Orchestra Childrens Chorus (COCC)
Website www.clevelandorch.com
Members
Music Director
Franz Welser-Möst
Music Director Laureate
Christoph von Dohnányi
Assistant Conductors
Jayce Ogren
Tito Muñoz
Director of Choruses
Robert Porco
Assistant Director of Choruses
Betsy Burleigh
Former members
Founder
Nikolai Sokoloff

The Cleveland Orchestra, located in Cleveland, Ohio, is one of the major symphony orchestras in the United States. It is one the "Big Five" orchestras of America, and is frequently counted among the finest orchestras in the world.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

The orchestra was founded in 1918 by Adella Prentiss Hughes, with Nikolai Sokoloff as its principal conductor. From early in its existence, it toured throughout the eastern United States, made radio broadcasts, and recorded many albums. Subsequent principal conductors, with the title of Music Director, were Artur Rodziński (1933-1943), Erich Leinsdorf (1943-1944), George Szell (1946-1970), Pierre Boulez (Musical Advisor 1970-1972), Lorin Maazel (1972-1982), and Christoph von Dohnányi (1984-2002). Franz Welser-Möst has been Music Director since 2002 and is contracted to remain through the 2017-2018 season.[2] [3]

George Szell's long reign as Music Director is largely responsible for the orchestra's rise to eminence. He reformed the orchestra in the 1950s, firing a dozen musicians in the process with a dozen more leaving of their own volition.[4] Szell is also credited with giving the orchestra its distinct, European sound.[4] He pushed an ambitious recording schedule with the orchestra, bringing its music to millions worldwide. Szell's influence has continued, even decades after his death.

Cleveland is the smallest city amongst the traditional "Big Five" orchestras; the others are based in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago. However, musicians in Cleveland are often treated as local celebrities, and, much like sports heroes elsewhere, fans seek autographs after performances and greet musicians on the street. Clevelanders are proud that their city boasts an orchestra rated on par with or above those in much larger cities.[5][4] They have even been known to "have airport rallies when the orchestra comes home from tour [and] chant, 'We're the best! We're the best!' and carry placards reading Bravo!'"[4]

In addition to a vast catalog of recordings created with the ensemble's music directors, the orchestra has made many recordings with guest conductors Vladimir Ashkenazy, Oliver Knussen, Kurt Sanderling, Yoel Levi, Riccardo Chailly, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Louis Lane (the orchestra's longtime Associate Conductor).

[edit] Locations

Severance Hall
Severance Hall

During the summer months, the orchestra plays at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio while during the winter months they play at Severance Hall in Cleveland. Until 2005, the Blossom Festival had its own music director. The last person to serve in that capacity was Jahja Ling. After he stepped down from that position, the orchestra eliminated the post, and now has current music director Franz Welser-Möst in charge of the classical music concerts at the Blossom Festival.[6]

The orchestra also has long-term performing relationships in Lucerne, Vienna, New York City, and Miami, and has conducted multi-concert tours on the West Coast off and on since the 1960s.[7]

[edit] Acclaim in the Press

  • January 1994: Time magazine rated The Cleveland Orchestra "the Best Band in the Land".[5]
  • December 1994: It was ranked in the top ten of the world's finest orchestras in the Japanese book, Sekai no Okesutora 123 (Orchestras of the World).[8]
  • February 2005: The New Yorker proclaimed the orchestra "the finest in America", though it questioned The Cleveland Orchestra's ability to survive the next century.[9]

[edit] Conductors

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Melinda Bargreen. "Is Cleveland Orchestra the best in the country?", The Seattle Times, 29 May 2005. Retrieved on 2007-07-15. 
  2. ^ Donald Rosenberg and Zachary Lewis. "Cleveland Orchestra extends Welser-Most's contract until 2018, plans staged operas", Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6 June 2008. Retrieved on 2008-06-07. 
  3. ^ James R. Oestreich. "Cleveland Orchestra Extends Music Director’s Contract", New York Times, 7 June 2008. Retrieved on 2008-06-07. 
  4. ^ a b c d "The Glorious Instrument", Time, 22 February 1963. Retrieved on 2007-07-15. 
  5. ^ a b Michael Walsh. "The Finest Orchestra? (Surprise!) Cleveland", Time, 1 January 1994. Retrieved on 2007-07-15. 
  6. ^ Valerie Scher. "Ling bids farewell to fest: 'It is time for me to move on'", The San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 September 2005. Retrieved on 2007-07-15. 
  7. ^ (9 May 2005). "The Cleveland Orchestra and Miami Performing Arts Center announce 10-year agreement for annual residency appearances". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-07-15.
  8. ^ The Listing of World's Greatest Orchestras. Retrieved on 2007-07-15.
  9. ^ Charles Michener. "The Clevelanders", The New Yorker, 7 February 2005, p. p. 47. Retrieved on 2007-07-15. 

[edit] Further reading

  • Rosenberg, Donald (2000). The Cleveland Orchestra Story. Cleveland: Gray & Company. ISBN 1886228248. 

[edit] External links


v • d • e
Cleveland Orchestra Music Directors

Nikolai Sokoloff (1918) · Artur Rodziński (1933) · Erich Leinsdorf (1943) · George Szell (1946) · Pierre Boulez (1970) · Lorin Maazel (1972) · Christoph von Dohnányi (1984) · Franz Welser-Möst (2002)