Arthur Rodzinski

Artur Rodziński, born on January 1, 1892 in Split, Dalmatia, was a Polish conductor. He worked as a conductor at the Lviv Opera from 1918-1919. Leopold Stokowski invited him to conduct the Philadelphia Orchestra after seeing his production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. From 1933-1943, Rodzinski was music director of the Cleveland Orchestra and introduced innovative programs such as the American premiere of Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. He later directed the New York Philharmonic from 1943 to 1947. His final role was with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for the 1947-1948 season. He continued directing major productions, such as Prokofiev’s War and Peace at the Maggio Musicale in Florence in 1953, and recorded extensively with labels including Columbia Records and Westminster Records before his passing on November 27, 1958.