Cleveland Orchestra facts for kids
The Cleveland Orchestra is a famous musical group based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is known as one of the top orchestras in the United States. The orchestra was started in 1918 by a talented pianist named Adella Prentiss Hughes. Most of their concerts happen at Severance Hall, a beautiful building in Cleveland. Since 2002, the orchestra's main conductor has been Franz Welser-Möst.
In 2012, a well-known music magazine called Gramophone listed the Cleveland Orchestra as one of the top 10 greatest orchestras in the world!
Contents
A World-Class Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is often called one of the "Big Five" American orchestras. This means it's considered one of the very best in the country.
The Szell Era: A Special Sound
A big reason the Cleveland Orchestra became so famous was because of its music director, George Szell. He led the orchestra for a long time, from 1946 to 1970. Szell made many important changes to the orchestra in the late 1940s. He wanted the orchestra to have a very clear and special sound, like European orchestras.
Under Szell, the orchestra also recorded many albums. This helped their music reach millions of people all over the world. Even many years after he passed away, Szell's influence can still be heard in the orchestra's performances.
Today's Performances and Tours
Today, Franz Welser-Möst continues to lead the Cleveland Orchestra. They perform regularly in Cleveland and also travel to play concerts around the world. Every summer, they perform at the Blossom Festival in Ohio. They also play in Miami, Florida, and at the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria.
Past Conductors
Many talented conductors have led the Cleveland Orchestra throughout its history:
- 1918-1933 Nikolai Sokoloff
- 1933-1943 Artur Rodziński
- 1943-1944 Erich Leinsdorf
- 1946-1970 George Szell
- 1970-1972 Pierre Boulez
- 1972-1982 Lorin Maazel
- 1984-2002 Christoph von Dohnányi
- 2002-present Franz Welser-Möst
