Tales from the Locker Room: An Anecdotal Portrait of George Szell and his Cleveland Orchestra

by Lawrence Angell, Bernette Jaffe

One of the greatest conductors of the 20th century, George Szell led the Cleveland Orchestra from 1946 until his death in 1970. A meticulous perfectionist, Szell was known to be an autocratic taskmaster who wielded total artistic control. Under his leadership he transformed the orchestra into a world class ensemble. Tales From the Locker Room gives a rare, honest, humorous and at times brutal look at this musical genius through first hand interviews, stories, and anecdotes by members of the Cleveland Orchestra who served under him.

Genres: Music

190 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 4, 2015

Reviews

[Schuyler Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Tales from the Locker Room” is a collection of anecdotes about George Szell and his leadership of the Cleveland Orchestra. Long known as brilliant and driven, Szell was an autocratic taskmaster who developed the orchestra to be known as the “finest in the world” by some observers. His methods were widely discussed but only those who were members of the ensemble knew the real atmosphere of the world he created.

This little book, put together by retired orchestra member Lawrence Angell and patron Bernette Jaffe, features interviews and memoirs of orchestral members recounting the many stories about their relationship with Szell behind the closed doors of backstage.

Szell, long known for his eccentric and egotistical ways, had the throat of the players in his grasp, and knew how and when to loosen his grip just in time to meld the individual performances into brilliant and resonating symphonic sound. Some relished his attention, others were indignant, and still others loathed him for his brutal treatment. I can’t determine if certain players received especially cruel criticism or if he was, at times, brutal to everyone but it appears that fear was a great motivator.

Many of his oddities are recounted here. If he happened to see members having a meal in a restaurant he would order their meal for them and have it sent to their table. Of course, he never paid the bill. He spent hours checking the parking lot below his office window to see who arrived with whom, what car they were driving, what they were carrying, how they were dressed, and what the time was. He would later bring up something he saw when speaking with them, probably tying in what he saw with their performance. He would move players from chair to chair in the orchestra, promoting or demoting them at will, something that was supposed to be negotiated. Complaints were never recognized and his decisions seldom changed.

I didn’t see a single complaint about his musicality or interpretation of the music he directed. If a musician complained that some fingering or lip positioning was too difficult to accomplish, he would either suggest an exercise to improve their ability or suggest they move to another orchestra. He might even fire them.

It’s an interesting look at how large symphony orchestras function. If that is of interest to you, you will find it riveting. If not, you’ll probably want to move to another book.

[Freddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Szell— feared, hated, and loved— was one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century, and his Cleveland recordings are essential listening for any classical music lover. This book is legendary for presenting the perspectives of the musicians who worked under his demanding baton. It’s entertaining, filled with great stories (often funny or shocking) and insights: “He controlled every note we played. It wasn’t something that you just put out there. I didn’t think there was any other conductor who paid attention to the fifth horn, the third trumpet or the second bassoon in order to achieve the kind of sound and balance he was looking for.”