"One of the very best books ever written about a symphony orchestra." -- Tim Page, 1997 recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism for his writings on music for the Washington Post.
How did a late-blooming midwestern orchestra rise amid gritty Big Industry to become a titan in the world of Big Art? This groundbreaking book tells the complete story of the people and events that shaped the Cleveland Orchestra into a classical music legend.
It's a story of indomitable founders like iron-willed impresario Adella Prentiss Hughes (the first woman to manage a symphony orchestra) and shrewd, wealthy patrons like industrialist John L. Severance. Of dedicated musicians and driven conductors--like colorful Artur Rodzinski (who packed a loaded pistol during every performance) and authoritarian genius George Szell, who drilled into his orchestra the awesome precision for which it is still renowned (and who even told his players how to dress and the cleaning ladies at Severance Hall what brand of toilet paper to stock).
These musicians, maestros, managers, and patrons fought relentlessly to earn and maintain a reputation for near-perfect performance--in a true virtuoso performance.
Donald Rosenberg taps the most authoritative sources and tells a complex, sweeping success story in very human terms, with an eye for its telling details and a feel for its true drama. Told with plenty of anecdotes and intriguing behind-the-scenes details.
Show more"One of the very best books ever written about a symphony orchestra." -- Tim Page, 1997 recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism for his writings on music for the Washington Post.
How did a late-blooming midwestern orchestra rise amid gritty Big Industry to become a titan in the world of Big Art? This groundbreaking book tells the complete story of the people and events that shaped the Cleveland Orchestra into a classical music legend.
It's a story of indomitable founders like iron-willed impresario Adella Prentiss Hughes (the first woman to manage a symphony orchestra) and shrewd, wealthy patrons like industrialist John L. Severance. Of dedicated musicians and driven conductors--like colorful Artur Rodzinski (who packed a loaded pistol during every performance) and authoritarian genius George Szell, who drilled into his orchestra the awesome precision for which it is still renowned (and who even told his players how to dress and the cleaning ladies at Severance Hall what brand of toilet paper to stock).
These musicians, maestros, managers, and patrons fought relentlessly to earn and maintain a reputation for near-perfect performance--in a true virtuoso performance.
Donald Rosenberg taps the most authoritative sources and tells a complex, sweeping success story in very human terms, with an eye for its telling details and a feel for its true drama. Told with plenty of anecdotes and intriguing behind-the-scenes details.
Show moreDonald Rosenberg is a classical music critic for The Plain Dealer and vice president of the Music Critics Association of North America. He was formerly music and dance critic of the Akron Beacon Journal and the Pittsburgh Press. His writing has appeared in Symphony Magazine, Opera News, Opera (London), Musical America, and other publications. An accomplished French horn player, he has performed at the prestigious Aspen and Marlboro music festivals. He is a graduate of the Mannes College of Music (Bachelor of Music degree) and the Yale School of Music (Master of Music and Master of Musical Arts degrees). He was born in New York City and lives in Shaker Heights, Ohio.
[A] fascinating and carefully researched history.--Richard Dyer
"Boston Globe Online (boston.com)" (10/1/2000 12:00:00 AM)
A fascinating history of the tangled but sometimes fruitful
relationship between politics and the arts in America--a story
written with admiration, respect and affection, but also with a
candor and detail . . . Highly detailed and informative, but
written with ease and authority and dramatic immediacy . . . A
frank, detailed account of how an important performing company
operates in a large American city.--David critic "The Plain Dealer"
(10/8/2000 12:00:00 AM)
A gripping, complex, sweeping, highly recommended story of true
drama and high achievement . . . "Must" reading for anyone who has
admired this American music institution as well as the men and
women who made it possible.-- "Midwest Book Review" (3/1/2001
12:00:00 AM)
A meticulously researched, in-depth, eloquently told account, and
quite possibly the finest of its kind ever written, at least in
English . . . A gripping story that the reader, once engaged, can
put aside only with the greatest difficulty . . . Fascinating
anecdotes, quips, stories, facts and events are found on nearly
every page . . . Will fascinate not only Cleveland Orchestra fans
but anyone interested in how a great orchestra is created and how
it operates on a daily basis.--Robert Markow "Schwann Opus
Magazine" (6/1/2001 12:00:00 AM)
A tour de force and will be the standard for many years. Rosenberg
never loses sight of the human element in the orchestra's history .
. . It is long, but it is a wonderful read.--Wil Hoffman "The
Weekly Villager" (3/23/2001 12:00:00 AM)
Absorbing reading, not merely a reference piece. Nor is it a lazy
view of the subject from the rear of the balcony . . .
Irresistible, tremendously informative and a just plain good read.
And yes, it should be in the library of every lover of symphonic
music and certainly every collector of books on music.
Period!--B.L.C "New Music Connoisseur" (3/28/2001 12:00:00 AM)
Absorbing.--Alex Ross "The New Yorker" (10/9/2000 12:00:00 AM)
Although [t]his history weighs in at an impressive 550 pages, it
never seems overlong. This is mainly because of the many
larger-than-life characters that crowd the pages, and the skillful
way in which Rosenberg balances all the myriad factors that have
determined the growth of one of America's finest orchestras . . .
Rosenberg writes in an easy, readable style. It is the best kind of
American critical writing: clear and to the point. His account is
well structured and finely edited.--David Patmore "International
Record Review" (3/1/2001 12:00:00 AM)
It is a story well worth the telling and he tells it well . . . The
story of what can happen to an orchestra when a community decides
it wants a winner.-- "The Toronto Star" (3/3/2001 12:00:00 AM)
It is ambitious, but Mr. Rosenberg, an engaging and often eloquent
writer, succeeds in making this a human story. The result is a
readable, colorful and fascinating chronicle that is an
indispensable addition to any orchestra lover's library.--Janelle
Gelfand "Cincinnati Enquirer" (2/4/2001 12:00:00 AM)
Manages to be both crammed full of facts and a good, fast-paced
read . . . it's about as comprehensive--and entertaining--a history
of a great musical organization you're likely to encounter.--T.J
Medrek "The Boston Herald" (9/29/2000 12:00:00 AM)
Much more than a history of one of the finest U.S. orchestras . . .
Donald Rosenberg has written a fascinating account of music,
musicians, politics, unbridled egos, and business that engages the
reader like a good mystery novel . . . thoroughly researched, well
documented, and very well written.--Timothy J. McGee "Library
Journal" (11/15/2000 12:00:00 AM)
Portrays fascinating details in a balanced account . . . This book
is a must for music lovers. Before reading this work, I never
realized the struggles, frustrations, infighting and financial
worries of the courageous men and women who made this orchestra
happen and develop into what it is today.--Eva Richter "Music Clubs
Magazine, National Federation of Music Clubs" (4/1/2001 12:00:00
AM)
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