Szell, George (sĕl), 1897–1970, American conductor and pianist, b. Budapest. He moved with his family to Vienna during his childhood and started his piano training at an early age studying at the State Academy of Music in Vienna and in Leipzig. Deciding on a career as a conductor, Szell assisted Richard Strauss at the Berlin State Opera, then held conducting posts in Strasbourg (1917), Prague (1919–21), Darmstadt (1922), and Düsseldorf (1922–24). He was the chief conductor of the Berlin State Opera from 1924 to 1930. Szell made his American debut (1930) with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Settling in the United States in 1939, he taught at the New School for Social Research and at the Mannes School of Music in New York City and was principal conductor at the Metropolitan Opera (1942–46). In 1946 he became a U.S. citizen. From that year until his death he was musical director of the Cleveland Orchestra, which, under his leadership, became one of the world's finest orchestras. He took leave to conduct the Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, and returned (1963) to the United States as guest conductor of the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, for which he also acted as interim conductor during the period from 1969 to 1970. Szell's interpretations were marked by clarity and objective adherence to the composer's intentions.

Szell, George

(born June 7, 1897, Budapest, Hung., Austria-Hungary—died July 30, 1970, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.) Hungarian-born U.S. conductor. He made his debut as a pianist at age 11, and before his 20th birthday he had appeared with the Berlin Philharmonic as pianist, conductor, and composer. He established himself as an opera conductor in various German cities, including Berlin (1924–30) and Prague (1930–36). When World War II broke out, he settled in the U.S., conducting at the Metropolitan Opera (1942–46) and then serving as musical director of the Cleveland Orchestra (1946–70). There he imposed stern discipline but won his players' devotion by his own fierce dedication. Under his direction the orchestra became known for its precision in playing and was considered one of the world's finest.

Szell, George (1897–1970) conductor; born in Budapest, Hungary. A child prodigy as pianist and composer, he made his conducting debut with the Berlin Philharmonic at age 17, conducting his own music. He went on to lead various opera orchestras including the Berlin State Opera (1924–29). After conducting the Scottish Orchestra in Glasgow for three years, he came to the U.S.A. in 1939 and guest-conducted widely. Named conductor of the Metropolitan Opera in 1944, he left two years later to take over the Cleveland Orchestra, which in the decades until his death he built into one of the great ensembles of the world, his interpretations marked by a remarkable clarity and elegance of playing—achieved by means of a famously dictatorial approach. During his Cleveland tenure Szell continued to guest-conduct worldwide, notably at the Salzburg Festivals (1949–68).