Conductor George Szell Died in 1970

The powerhouse conductor and longtime music director of The Cleveland Orchestra, is known both for his brilliant artistry and tempestuous personality

Hungarian-born American conductor George Szell — widely considered one of the 20th century's greatest conductors — died on this day in 1970, aged 73.

Szell is remembered for his long tenure as music director of The Cleveland Orchestra from 1946-1970. During that time, he developed the ensemble into one of the United States' finest and most well-respected orchestras.

With leadership that has been described as the "inescapable, dominating presence of Cleveland's musical life," Szell is known for attention to minute sound details. He often described an orchestra as a string quartet with a hundred people in it.

BEETHOVEN | SYMPHONY NO. 5 | GEORGE SZELL & CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA