Various Composers - George Szell in New York, Vol. 1 (2026)

Information

• César Franck - Symphony in D Minor, FWV 48
• Jean Sibelius - Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43

New York Philharmonic

George Szell, conductor

Date: 1953; 1956 / 2026

Label: SOMM Recordings

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SOMM Recordings launches a new remastered series showcasing conductor George Szell in live 1953 Carnegie Hall performances with the Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York. Sourced from CBS Radio broadcasts within the personal archive of master restoration engineer Lani Spahr, who also penned the album’s insightful liner notes, the release features César Franck’s Symphony in D minor and Jean Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2. Recorded during Szell’s celebrated 27-year relationship with the New York ensemble, these performances highlight the orchestra’s exceptional artistry prior to Szell’s legendary tenure with the Cleveland Orchestra, offering listeners a impeccably restored document of mid-century symphonic mastery.

George Szell (1897–1970) was a Hungarian-born conductor and pianist who became one of the 20th century’s most influential orchestral leaders. Trained in Vienna under Mandyczewski, Foerster, Reger, and Robert, he debuted as a pianist at ten and as a conductor at sixteen with the Vienna State Opera Orchestra. After early posts in Berlin and Prague, he became music director of the Cleveland Orchestra in 1946, transforming it into one of the world’s finest ensembles through his exacting standards and precision. Though known for his strict discipline, Szell earned deep respect from musicians. His acclaimed recordings remain landmarks of orchestral performance.

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