George Szell conducts Mussorgsky (vaimusic.com)

[DRUmat404]

his name was Edward Matey

[DRUmat404]

my grandpa played with Szell...he was 1st violins

[zagreen]

This is incredible.

Then and now, there's no orchestra like Chicago.

[vargas97100]

bellissima opera w mussorgski

[paulostroff99]

Awesome

[nakamichiguy]

Very interesting! Was this orchestra crammed into a TV studio for this piece?

[oboest]

Happy Birthday Mr. Ray Still! So nice to find this video with you!

[OboeCanAm]

@oboest Mr. Still is 90! And going strong!

[frayedtip]

Orchestra sounds nice. Check out the Cleveland Orchestra rec. of this. Marc Lifschey on Principal oboe. Simply the best!!

[OboeCanAm]

Frayedtip:

I listen to that recording all the time! Marc Lifschey could make incredible music by just playing one note!

[SexyNerd4u]

@frayedtip A pain in the butt to find though >.<

[dbllip]

To clear up the confusion: this is indeed the (abbreviated) Chicago Symphony c. 1961. Clark Brody was indeed the CSO solo clarinet in that era. The clarinet soloist in this video is not Brody but the CSO 2nd clarinet from that era, Jerome "Jerry" Stowell, who does his usual fine job with the music. (For a sublime interpretation of this clarinet solo, seek out the Szell/Cleveland recording with Marcellus).

[overlord1294]

Are you sure this is Chicago Symphony? That doesn't sound like Clark Brody at all. I guess they could have someone else sitting first clarinet but thats not likely.

[billt6161]

The orchestra in this video is, without a doubt, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

[abankse83]

ah the sounds of the midwest

[bradhorn14]

who was playing principal horn in this?

[RoGarl]

maybe Christopher Leuba?

[bradhorn14]

oooo good thought!

[znanto]

one of the most captivating melodies. Mussorgsky, hats off to you

[kedonsiemen]

a great soul, a great mind.. <3

khovanschina is very original piece of gold, don't know anything like it.

[j72050]

Szell noted a violinist got a new car....while keeping a mediocre old violin. A few hours later, Szell fired him. Related to me by retired members of the Cleveland Orchestra.

[chicagoman58]

that is an amazing story...I am a native Clevelander and love to hear stories like that about Szell. Lots of them in Donald Rosenberg's book. Would you happen to know, are there any Szell hires left in the orchestra?

[healya18]

i too am from cleveland....just wondering which orchestra are you talking about when you ask are there any szell hires left in the orchestra....cleveland or chicago?

[paulostroff99]

Beautiful playing!

[benzininator]

Great Historical video! Fantastic to see a very young Clark Brody (clarinet), Donald Peck (flute) & Ray Still (oboe)

[ibrokemyfingerbowlin]

Not so sure that's Brody. Might be the assistant.

[AllanKohrman]

I was born and raised in Cleveland and in a sense was weaned by George Szell. I still think he was the greatest conductor of the twentieth century, and I would put Fritz Reiner second. I also believe that the Chicago under Solti and Barenboim was difficult to take. Under Solti the brass was just too loud and too prominent. Barenboim's work lacked unity and coherence.

[billyguns2]

Szell made the Cleveland Orchestra into the most perfect American orchestra ever; yes, he was one of the all-time greats, a list that also must include Reiner, Monteux, Furtwangler, Karajan, and several other more controversial conductors.

[paulostroff99]

You can add Felix Weingartner and Thomas Beecham to this list- IMO.Bruno Walter and Otto Klemperer would be a good fit as well,as would Arturo Toscanini, and Serge Koussevitski of the Boston Symphony Orchestra Glory years.

[Vivaldifan]

And to that you could add Sir George Solti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Of course I'm sure there are many around the world that could be added.

[paulostroff99]

Vivaldifan-Solti would be near the top of any list,but Szell would be at the top of most lists.

[paulostroff99]

billyguns2-What of Felix Weingartner,Bruno Walter,Serge Kousevitsky of the old Boston,as well as Arturo Toscanini,and Otto Klemperer.I do agree that Szell would be near or at at the top of any list.These aforementioned conductors were right up there with him,as were the others that you accorded honourable mention.

[podiumman2]

I agree; however, I've never cared for his russian interpretations, they're not warm and romantic enough. I LOVE his Beethoven though, as well, of course, as Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, and Mendelssohn.

[saxcock]

Szell was an autocrat/dictator....I wonder how that would have gone over in Chicago. A great discussion, however, as Cleveland under Szell and Chicago under Solti are my absolute favorites. TALK about HORN SECTIONS - WOW! Jacobs vs. Bishop on Tuba??? The list could go on and on.....

[HalWeller]

Is Chris Leuba the principal French horn in this video?? What a blast from the past!!

[HalWeller]

The CSO videos were made with a very reduced orchestra and little to no rehearsal time. To argue the virtues of these two great orchestras and come up with a "winner" is pointless. Both Szell and Reiner were transcendent conductors. For my taste, Szell built an orchestra in Cleveland that, even 37 years after his death and with barely a handful of musicians from his time left in the orchestra, still carries his distinctive imprint and musical personality.

[BambosNeophytou]

No orchestra-conductor pairing in the USA comes close to Cleveland & Szell during their heyday - unrivalled finesse, clarity, unanimity and beautifully and meticulously conceived interpretations and performances. I've never heard a CSO recording under Reiner or anyone else that is as remotely as interesting or exciting. Can anyone recommned any?

[stickwagger]

As an Englishman I'm impartial, but "Alborada de Grazioso" done by Chicago under Reiner is breathtaking. I think that Szell and Cleveland are tops though. Their Brahms and Wagner are a joy. Even the clarinet sounds good (joke!)

[bene951]

I don't know if you intentionally did this but your joke about clarinet, for me at least, is funny beyond the fact that you are poking a little fun (in good humor) at the clarinet. I'm a clarinet player and the clarinetist in the Cleveland Orchestra while George Szell was there is arguably the greatest orchestral clarinetist ever (and in my opinion, the absolute greatest): the true American-style clarinetist, Robert Marcellus. Gasp...

[stickwagger]

Yes, it's joke, sorry! It's just that generally the Buffet sound can come over as a bit bland on recordings. Marcellus' had a great tone.

[bmarquez12345]

Also...I have a recording of Cleveland and Szell playing this piece. I would argue that the musical vision and color are that much more clear and realized with Cleveland...I highly recommend checking the Cleveland performance out..and compare..and judge for yourself.

[bmarquez12345]

I highly doubt szell preferred CSO to Cleveland...though both were great orchestras. Louis Lane has said that the Cleveland was Szell's ideal instrument. I am a collector of Szell Cleveland recordings and am from Cleveland...I would be inclined to agree.

[saxcock]

What makes you all think he would prefer CSO to Cleveland? Cleveland in its hayday was equal to Solti and Chicago in temrs of greatness. I really think that Cleveland and Szell were an easy top 3 in the world until the early 70's. THen CSO and Solti really took center stage as the worlds top orchestra for almost 2 decades. Love Szell though....

[wienerphil]

Szell prefer Chicago? Who wouldn't? At that time, under Reiner's tenure, they were probably the most powerful yet controlled orchestra in the world, rivaled only by The Vienna Philharmonic perhaps. Once Solti came in they still had much power, but very little discipline. Everything f was played at ffff.

[winrx]

I wonder if Szell preferred Chicago to his own - he would never have admitted it but I think he did.