The Cleveland Orchestra, which was founded in 1918, was first recorded in 1924. Most of the orchestra's recordings have been made either in its concert home, Severance Hall, or in nearby Masonic Auditorium.
Record labels
The Cleveland Orchestra's first recording, of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, was made for the Brunswick label with its first music director, Nikolai Sokoloff.
The Cleveland Orchestra began a long-running association with the Columbia Masterworks label under conductor Artur Rodziński. Successors Erich Leinsdorf, George Szell, and Lorin Maazel all recorded for Columbia, with some early Szell records being assigned to Columbia's budget sub-label, Epic. Szell's recordings with Cleveland in particular have remained steadily in print. In the 1990s the Columbia catalogue was acquired by Sony Classics, which continues to issue the recordings.
The Cleveland Orchestra was one of the first to find new audiences via digital recording technology thanks to its collaboration with the locally-based audiophile label Telarc. This association, as well as one with Decca, began under Maazel and continued under his successor Christoph von Dohnányi. The orchestra's cycle of the complete Beethoven symphonies with Dohnányi was one of the first digitally recorded cycles by a major orchestra. The orchestra has also been recorded with a number of guest conductors, including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Riccardo Chailly and Pierre Boulez, who was musical advisor to the orchestra from 1970–1972.
The pace of the orchestra's recording activity slowed in the late 1990s when market demand dropped for new CDs. A project to record Wagner's complete Ring cycle with Dohnányi for Decca was left unfinished. Despite the many changes facing commercial record labels at the turn of the century, the orchestra continues to be featured in new releases. In 2007 the orchestra recorded Beethoven's Ninth Symphony under Franz Welser-Möst for Deutsche Grammophon. Pianist Mitsuko Uchida has begun a series of Mozart piano concertos with the orchestra for the Decca label.
In 2020, The Cleveland Orchestra announced they had started their own recording label, self-titled as The Cleveland Orchestra.
Premiere recordings
The Cleveland Orchestra has long been known for performing newer music. Some notable world premiere recordings include:
- Sergei Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2 (abridged) (Nikolai Sokoloff, conductor)
- Alban Berg: Violin Concerto (Artur Rodziński, conductor/Louis Krasner, violin)
- John Adams: Century Rolls (Christoph von Dohnányi, conductor/Emanuel Ax, pianist)
- Harrison Birtwistle: Sonance Severance 2000 (Christoph von Dohnányi, conductor)
Discography
The discography below is not comprehensive, but rather representative. The listing only contains Compact Disc releases and does not contain 78rpm, LP, Cassette, or 8-track tape releases. In addition to recordings issued on major labels, it includes limited edition releases on the orchestra's private label. The Cleveland Orchestra's complete discography up to 2000 can be found in Donald Rosenberg's book, The Cleveland Orchestra Story – Second to None.
Title/program | Conductor | Year(s) of recording | Record label |
---|---|---|---|
The Cleveland Orchestra 75th anniversary (10-CD set)
|
Nicolai Sokoloff*, Artur Rodziński+, Erich Leinsdorf^, George Szell~, Pierre Boulez`, Lorin Maazel=, Christoph von Dohnányi# | 1928–1992 | Cleveland Orchestra |
Mahler
|
Pierre Boulez | 2010 | Deutsche Grammophon |
Wagner
|
Franz Welser-Möst | 2009 | Deutsche Grammophon |
Ravel
|
Pierre Boulez | 2010 | Deutsche Grammophon |
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9
|
Franz Welser-Möst | 2007 | Deutsche Grammophon |
Mozart: Piano Concertos 23 & 24
|
Mitsuko Uchida (also pianist) | 2008 | Decca |
Busoni: Piano Concerto
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 1990 | Telarc |
John Adams: Century Rolls
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 1999 | Nonesuch |
Brahms: Piano Concerto in B-flat major, Op. 83
|
George Szell | 1966–1979 | Sony Classical |
Beethoven & Mozart Piano Concertos
|
George Szell | Columbia Masterworks Great Performances | |
Beethoven/Dvořák
|
George Szell | 1968 & 1970 | Angel/EMI |
Beethoven: Piano Concertos 1-4
|
George Szell | 1968 | Angel/EMI |
Beethoven: Piano Concertos 3 & 4
|
George Szell | 1959 & 1961 | Sony Classical |
Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 / Handel Variations
|
George Szell | 1968–1979 | Sony Classical |
Berlioz: Roméo Et Juliette, Les Nuits D'été
|
Pierre Boulez | 2000 | Deutsche Grammophon |
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
|
Pierre Boulez | 1996 | Deutsche Grammophon |
Boulez Conducts Stravinsky
|
Pierre Boulez | 1994–1996 | Deutsche Grammophon |
Debussy: Images
|
Pierre Boulez | 1991 | Deutsche Grammophon |
Mahler: Symphony No. 7 | Pierre Boulez | 1994 | Deutsche Grammophon |
Debussy: La Mer
|
Pierre Boulez | 1991–1993 | Deutsche Grammophon |
Mahler: Symphony No. 4
|
Pierre Boulez | 1998 | Deutsche Grammophon |
Messiaen: Et Exspecto Resurrectionem Mortuorum
|
Pierre Boulez | 1993 | Deutsche Grammophon |
Messiaen: Poèmes pour Mi, 7 Haïkaï
|
Pierre Boulez | 1994–1996 | Deutsche Grammophon |
Schoenberg: Piano Concerto
|
Pierre Boulez | 1998 & 2000 | Philips |
Ravel, Debussy
|
Pierre Boulez | 1999 | Deutsche Grammophon |
Stravinsky: Pétrouchka, Le Sacre Du Printemps | Pierre Boulez | 1991 | Deutsche Grammophon |
Bartók, Lutoslawski: Concertos For Orchestra
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 1988–1989 | Decca |
Beethoven: Complete Symphonies (5-CD set)
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 1983–1988 | Telarc |
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 1989 | Decca |
Brahms: Symphonies, Overtures & Violin Concerto (4-CD set)
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | Warner Classics | |
Bruckner: Symphonies 3 & 8
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 1989 | Decca |
Bruckner: Symphony No. 4
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | Decca | |
Bruckner: Symphony No. 5
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 1991 | Decca |
Bruckner: Symphony No. 6
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 1991 & 1993 | Decca |
Bruckner: Symphony No. 7
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | Decca | |
Bruckner: Symphony No. 9
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | Decca | |
Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 8 & 9
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | Telarc | |
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 1988 | Telarc |
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 1986 | Telarc |
Dvořák: Slavonic Dances
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | Decca | |
Dvořák: Symphonies 7, 8 & 9
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | Decca | |
Dvořák: Symphony No. 6 / Janáček: Taras Bulba
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 1989 | Decca |
Ives: Symphony No. 4
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 1991–1994 | Decca |
Ives / Ruggles
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 1993–1994 | Decca |
Mahler: Symphony No. 1
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | Decca | |
Mahler: Symphony No. 4
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 1992 | Decca |
Mahler: Symphony No. 5
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | Decca | |
Mahler: Symphony No. 6 / Schoenberg / Webern
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 1991 | Decca |
Mahler: Symphony No. 9
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 1994 & 1997 | Decca |
Mozart: Concertos
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | Decca | |
Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 1991 & 1993 | Decca |
Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 35-41 / Webern: Orchestra works (3-CD set)
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | Decca | |
Norton Memorial Organ
|
Sir Andrew Davis, Jahja Ling | 2001 | Cleveland Orchestra |
Mussorgsky
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | Teldec | |
Ravel
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 1989 & 1991 | Teldec |
Schumann: The Symphonies (2-CD set) | Christoph von Dohnányi | Decca | |
Smetana
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | Decca | |
R. Strauss
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | Decca | |
The Joshua Bell Edition Vol. 3 ( 2-CD set)
|
Christoph von Dohnányi, Vladimir Ashkenazy* | 1988 & 1994 | Decca |
Wagner: Das Rheingold (2-CD set)
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 1993 | Decca |
Wagner: Die Walküre
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 1992 | Decca |
Stravinsky: The Fairy's Kiss
|
Oliver Knussen | Deutsche Grammophon | |
The Original Jacket Collection – Mozart (10-CD set)
|
George Szell, Louis Lane+, Robert Shaw,^ Erich Leinsdorf~ | Sony Classical | |
Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet - Excerpts | Yoel Levi | 1983 | Telarc |
Sibelius
|
Yoel Levi | 1984 | Telarc |
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9
|
Lorin Maazel | 1978 | Sony Classical |
Berlioz / Tchaikovsky
|
Lorin Maazel | 1981–1982 | Telarc |
Gershwin: Porgy & Bess (3-CD set)
|
Lorin Maazel | Decca | |
Mussorgsky
|
Lorin Maazel | 1978 | Telarc |
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet (2-CD set)
|
Lorin Maazel | 1973 | Decca |
Respighi / Rimsky-Korsakov
|
Lorin Maazel | Decca | |
Shostakovich / Tchaikovsky
|
Lorin Maazel | 1981 | Telarc |
Stravinsky / Tchaikovsky
|
Lorin Maazel | 1980 | Telarc |
Saint-Saëns / Schumann: Cello Concertos
|
Sir Neville Marriner | Decca | |
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 15
|
Kurt Sanderling | 1991 | Erato |
The Original Jacket Collection – The Complete Beethoven Symphonies (10-CD set)
|
George Szell, Louis Lane* | Sony Classical | |
Beethoven: The Five Piano Concertos (3-CD set)
|
George Szell | Columbia Masterworks | |
Brahms: Piano Concertos (2-CD set)
|
George Szell | 1956–1962 | Sony Classical Masterworks Heritage |
Brahms: Violin Concerto
|
George Szell | EMI Classics | |
Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3
|
George Szell | 1964–1967 | Sony ClassicalEssential Classics |
Brahms: Symphony No. 4
|
George Szell | Sony ClassicalEssential Classics | |
Dvořák: Slavonic Dances (complete)
|
George Szell | 1962–1965 | Sony ClassicalEssential Classics |
Dvořák: Three Great Symphonies (2-CD set)
|
George Szell | 1962–1965 | Sony Classical Masterworks Heritage |
Franck / Rachmaninoff
|
George Szell | Columbia Masterworks Great Performances | |
Mussorgsky / Rimsky-Korsakov
|
George Szell | Sony Classical | |
Grieg / Schumann: Piano Concertos
|
George Szell | Columbia Masterworks Great Performances | |
Haydn: Early London Symphonies (2-CD set)
|
George Szell | Sony Classical | |
Kodály / Prokofiev
|
George Szell | Columbia Masterworks Great Performances | |
Prokofiev / Bartók
|
George Szell | 1959 & 1965 | Sony Classical Masterworks Heritage |
Schumann: The Four Symphonies (2-CD set)
|
George Szell | 1958–1960 | Sony Classical Masterworks Heritage |
Mahler / Mozart (2-CD set)
|
George Szell | CBS Masterworks | |
Mahler: Symphony No. 6
|
George Szell | Sony Classical Great Performances | |
Mendelssohn: "Italian" Symphony
|
George Szell | 1962–1967 | Sony Classical |
Mozart: Piano Concertos 21 & 26
|
George Szell | Sony Classical Essential Classics | |
Mozart: Piano Concertos 21 & 24
|
George Szell | CBS Masterworks Great Performances | |
Prokofiev: Piano Concertos 1 & 3
|
George Szell | 1962–1966 | Sony Classical Great Performances |
Schubert: Symphonies 8 & 9
|
George Szell | Sony Classical Essential Classics | |
R. Strauss Tone Poems
|
George Szell | CBS Masterworks Great Performances | |
Strauss Waltzes
|
George Szell | 1958 & 1962 | Sony Classical |
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1
|
George Szell | 1969 | CBS Masterworks Great Performances |
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5
|
George Szell | 1958 & 1959 | Sony Classical Great Performances |
Orff: Carmina Burana
|
Michael Tilson Thomas | 1974 | Sony Classical Great Performances |
Live in Tokyo (2-CD set)
|
George Szell | 1970 | Cleveland Orchestra |
Beethoven: The Five Piano Concertos
|
Vladimir Ashkenazy | Decca | |
Severance Hall reopening concert
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 2000 | Cleveland Orchestra |
The Cleveland Sound
|
Christoph von Dohnányi | 2000 | Decca |
A New Century
|
Franz Welser-Möst | 2020 | Cleveland Orchestra |
Schubert and Křenek
|
Franz Welser-Möst | 2020 | Cleveland Orchestra |
Schnittke and Prokofiev
|
Franz Welser-Möst | 2021 | Cleveland Orchestra` |
Strauss: Three Tone Poems
|
Franz Welser-Möst | 2021 | Cleveland Orchestra |
George Walker
|
Franz Welser-Möst | 2022 |
References
- Rosenberg, Donald. The Cleveland Orchestra Story - Second to None. Gray & Company. ISBN 1-886228-24-8
- "A New Century". The Cleveland Orchestra. March 13, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
- "The Milwaukee Journal - Google News Archive". 1941-09-21. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
- "Primary discographical source". Arkiv Music. 2011-04-19. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
- "Encore - The Cleveland Orchestra 75 (sound recording) seventy-fifth anniversary". Encore.cuyahoga.lib.oh.us. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
- "Music Notes - New York Times". The New York Times. 1993-10-02. Retrieved 2012-02-09.