Compatibility in Cleveland

During his annual mid-season vacations from the Cleveland Orchestra, Conductor George Szell (pronounced sell) can be seen on some of the U.S.'s most famed podiums: the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and starting next season, the Metropolitan Opera. To judge by the enthusiasm of critics and audiences, he could probably land himself an even more impressive berth than the one he has. But the story of Szell and Cleveland is the story of a happy musical partnership.

Budapest-born George Szell took up Cleveland's baton six years ago on one condition: his board of directors must give him "the means of making this orchestra second to none." Since then, he has increased the orchestra's size from 82 to 96, and hired a score or so of musicians (among them Concertmaster Josef Gingold from Detroit) from other organizations. Today, Conductor Szell is content: the Cleveland personnel is "as good as any conductor could wish for." With a whopping $5,000,000 endowment and willing contributors to the annual deficit drive (this year: $110,000), the orchestra's economic position is also as secure as any in the world.

"We aim," says Szell, "at combining the virtuosity and polish and opulence that are characteristic of top-ranking American orchestras with the expressive abandon of typically European orchestras in their best days." And he adds: "If you give me a week, I might think of a gripe."

Cleveland is just as strong for its 55-year-old conductor. Last week the orchestra board signed George Szell to a new three-year contract.

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