Credits:

George Szell

Description:

The SOMM/ARIADNE label has launched a new series titled George Szell in New York. The first release features two live recordings from 1953, when Szell conducted the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestrathe predecessor to the New York Philharmonic.Having left Europe as fascism was on the rise, Szell took refuge at a friends home in New York in October 1939. Although he initially struggled to find work, his reputation grew as his guest conducting engagements increased the following year, and in 1942, he was invited to become the conductor of the Metropolitan Opera. He appears to have been an uncompromising perfectionist even then; that same year, when he guest-conducted the NBC Symphony Orchestrawhich had been rigorously trained by Toscaniniduring the Eroica Symphony, the second movement, more than 50 times, reportedly enraged Toscaniniwho was presentto the point that he declared, This is an i