Szell, << sehl, >> George (1897-1970), was a Hungarian-born symphony orchestra conductor. Earlier in his career, Szell was equally noted as a pianist. From 1946 until his death, Szell conducted the Cleveland Orchestra, which he built into one of the world’s great orchestras. Szell’s insistence on precision and clarity made some observers think his interpretations lacked sufficient emotion. Actually, Szell used his brilliant technique to produce music of unique emotional force.
Szell was born on June 7, 1897, in Budapest. During the 1920’s and 1930’s, he established himself as a conductor of operas, particularly those composed by Mozart and Wagner. He later concentrated on conducting orchestral music. Szell became a United States citizen in 1946. He died on July 29, 1970.
