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.Rosenberg, Donald. The Cleveland Orchestra Story - Second to None. Gray & Company.
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 to 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 78 rpm, 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/programConductorYear(s) of recordingRecord labelThe Cleveland Orchestra 75th anniversary (10-CD set) Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2* (World Premiere recording) Shostavokich: Symphony No. 1+ Debussy: Pelléas and Mélisande: Preludes and interludes^ Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade+ Sibelius: Symphonies 2~ & 3~ Wagner: Siegfried Idyll~ Mozart: Requiem, K. 626~ Schumann: Introduction and allegro, Op. 92~ Strauss: Burger als Edelmann Suite~ Ravel: Tombeau de Couperin~ / Daphnis and Chloe, Suite No. 2` Prokofiev: Classical symphony, Op. 25~ / Scythian suite` Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde~ / Five Ruckert songs# Stravinsky: Chant du Rossignol` Messiaen: Oiseaux exotiques Druckman: Windows= Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony, Op. 58= Schubert: Symphony no. 10, D. 936a: Andante# Weill - Brecht: The Seven Deadly Sins# Beethoven: Grosse Fuge, Op. 133# Ruggles: Sun-Treader# Brahms: Piano Quartet in G minor, Op. 25 (arr. Schoenberg)#Nicolai Sokoloff*, Artur Rodziński+, Erich Leinsdorf^, George Szell~, Pierre Boulez`, Lorin Maazel=, Christoph von Dohnányi#1928–1992Cleveland OrchestraMahler Des Knaben Wunderhorn Christian Gerhaher, baritone Magdalena Kožená, mezzo-soprano Symphony No. 10 in F sharp minor/major: AdagioPierre Boulez2010Deutsche Grammophon Wagner Wesendonck Lieder Measha Brueggergosman, soprano Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Act 1 Prelude Rienzi: Overture Lohengrin: Act 1 & Act 3 Preludes Tristan und Isolde: Prelude and Liebestod Die Walküre: Ride of the ValkyriesFranz Welser-Möst2009Deutsche Grammophon Ravel Piano Concerto for the Left Hand Piano Concerto in G Miroirs (piano solo) Pierre-Laurent Aimard, pianistPierre Boulez2010Deutsche Grammophon Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 Measha Brueggergosman, soprano Kelley O'Connor, mezzo-soprano Frank Lopardo, Tenor René Pape, bass The Cleveland Orchestra ChorusFranz Welser-Möst2007Deutsche GrammophonMozart: Piano Concertos 23 & 24 Piano Concerto in A major, K. 488 Piano Concerto in C minor, K. 491Mitsuko Uchida (also pianist)2008DeccaBusoni: Piano Concerto Garrick Ohlsson, pianist The Cleveland Orchestra ChorusChristoph von Dohnányi1990TelarcJohn Adams: Century Rolls Emanuel Ax, pianistChristoph von Dohnányi1999NonesuchBrahms: Piano Concerto in B-flat major, Op. 83 Rudolf Serkin, pianist Also includes Four pieces for solo piano, Op. 119George Szell1966–1979Sony ClassicalBeethoven & Mozart Piano Concertos Beethoven: Piano Concerto in G Major, Op. 58 Mozart: Piano Concerto in C major, K. 503 Leon Fleisher, pianistGeorge SzellColumbia Masterworks Great PerformancesBeethoven/Dvořák Beethoven: Piano Concerto in E-flat major, Op. 73 / Variations C minor on an Original Theme, WoO 80 / Variations A major on a theme of Wranitzky, WoO 71 / Variations on an Original Theme in D major, Op. 76 Emil Gilels, pianist Dvořák: Symphony in G major, Op. 88/B 163 / Slavonic Dance, Op. 72/B 147: No. 2 in E minor / Slavonic Dance, Op. 46/B 83: No. 3 in A-flat majorGeorge Szell1968 & 1970Angel/EMIBeethoven: Piano Concertos 1-4 Beethoven: Piano Concerto in C major, Op. 15 / Piano Concerto in B-flat major, 19 / Piano Concerto in C minor, Op. 37 / Piano Concerto in G major, Op. 58 Emil Gilels, pianistGeorge Szell1968Angel/EMIBeethoven: Piano Concertos 3 & 4 Beethoven: Piano Concerto in C minor, Op. 37 / Piano Concerto in G major, Op. 58 Leon Fleisher, pianistGeorge Szell1959 & 1961Sony ClassicalBrahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 / Handel Variations Brahms: Piano Concerto in D minor, Op. 15 / Variations and Fugue on a theme by Handel, Op. 24 Rudolf Serkin, pianistGeorge Szell1968–1979Sony ClassicalBerlioz: Roméo Et Juliette, Les Nuits D'été Berlioz: Roméo et Juliette, Op. 17 / Les nuits d'été, Op. 7 Melanie Diener, soprano Kenneth Tarver, tenor Denis Sedov, bass Cleveland Orchestra ChorusPierre Boulez2000Deutsche GrammophonBerlioz: Symphonie Fantastique Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14 / Tristia, Op. 18* Cleveland Orchestra Chorus*Pierre Boulez1996Deutsche GrammophonBoulez Conducts Stravinsky Stravinsky: Chant du rossignol / Scherzo fantastique, Op. 3 / Le roi des étoiles / L'histoire du soldat: Suite for Chamber EnsemblePierre Boulez1994–1996Deutsche GrammophonDebussy: Images Debussy: Images for Orchestra / Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune / PrintempsPierre Boulez1991Deutsche GrammophonMahler: Symphony No. 7Pierre Boulez1994Deutsche GrammophonDebussy: La Mer Debussy: Three Nocturnes for Orchestra* / Jeux / La mer / Première Rhapsodie for Clarinet and Orchestra+ Cleveland Orchestra Chorus* Franklin Cohen, clarinet+Pierre Boulez1991–1993Deutsche GrammophonMahler: Symphony No. 4 William Preucil, violin Juliane Banse, sopranoPierre Boulez1998Deutsche GrammophonMessiaen: Et Exspecto Resurrectionem Mortuorum Messiaen: Chronochromie / La ville d'en haut / Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorumPierre Boulez1993Deutsche GrammophonMessiaen: Poèmes pour Mi, 7 Haïkaï Messiaen: Poèmes pour Mi / Réveil des Oiseaux / Haïkaï (7)Pierre Boulez1994–1996Deutsche GrammophonSchoenberg: Piano Concerto Schoenberg: Concerto for Piano, Op. 42+ / Pieces for Piano, Op. 11 / Little Pieces for Piano, Op. 19 Berg: Sonata for Piano, Op. 1 Variations for Piano, Op. 27 Mitsuko Uchida, piano The orchestra only performs in the Concerto+Pierre Boulez1998 & 2000PhilipsRavel, Debussy Ravel: Shéhérazade* / Le tombeau de Couperin / Pavane pour une infante défunte / Menuet antique Debussy: Danse sacrée et danse profane+ / Poèmes (5) de Baudelaire: no 3, Le jet d'eau^ / Ballades (3) de François Villon^ Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano* Lisa Wellbaum, harp+ Alison Hagley, soprano^Pierre Boulez1999Deutsche GrammophonStravinsky: Pétrouchka, Le Sacre Du PrintempsPierre Boulez1991Deutsche GrammophonBartók, Lutoslawski: Concertos For Orchestra Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra, Sz 116 Lutoskawski: Concerto for OrchestraChristoph von Dohnányi1988–1989DeccaBeethoven: Complete Symphonies (5-CD set) Beethoven: Symphonies 1-9 / Leonore Overture, No. 3 Op. 72a Carol Vaness, soprano Janice Taylor, mezzo-soprano Siegfried Jerusalem, tenor Robert Lloyd, bass Cleveland Orchestra ChorusChristoph von Dohnányi1983–1988TelarcBerlioz: Symphonie Fantastique Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14 Weber: Invitation to the Dance, Op. 65Christoph von Dohnányi1989DeccaBrahms: Symphonies, Overtures & Violin Concerto (4-CD set) Brahms: Symphonies 1 – 4 / Concerto for Violin in D major, Op. 77 / Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80 / Tragic Overture, Op. 81 Thomas Zehetmair, violinChristoph von DohnányiWarner ClassicsBruckner: Symphonies 3 & 8 Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D minor, WAB 103 / Symphony no 8 in C minor, WAB 108Christoph von Dohnányi1989DeccaBruckner: Symphony No. 4 Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in E flat major, WAB 104 "Romantic"Christoph von DohnányiDeccaBruckner: Symphony No. 5 Bruckner: Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, WAB 105Christoph von Dohnányi1991DeccaBruckner: Symphony No. 6 Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 in A major, WAB 106 J. S. Bach: Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: No. 8, Ricercar a 6Christoph von Dohnányi1991 & 1993DeccaBruckner: Symphony No. 7 Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 in E major, WAB 107Christoph von DohnányiDeccaBruckner: Symphony No. 9 Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, WAB 109Christoph von DohnányiDeccaSchubert: Symphonies Nos. 8 & 9 Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D 759 "Unfinished" / Symphony No. 9 in C major, D 944 "Great"Christoph von DohnányiTelarcMendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56 "Scottish" / Die erste Walpurgisnacht, Op. 60Christoph von Dohnányi1988TelarcTchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 Tchaikovsky: Symphony No 6 in B minor, Op. 74 "Pathétique" / Eugene Onegin, Op. 24: PolonaiseChristoph von Dohnányi1986TelarcDvořák: Slavonic Dances Dvořák: Eight Slavonic Dances, Op. 46/B 83 / Eight Slavonic Dances, Op. 72/B 147Christoph von DohnányiDeccaDvořák: Symphonies 7, 8 & 9 Dvořák: Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70/B 141 / Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88/B 163 / Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95/B 178 "From the New World" / Scherzo capriccioso, Op. 66/B 131Christoph von DohnányiDeccaDvořák: Symphony No. 6 / Janáček: Taras Bulba Dvořák: Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60/B 112 Janáček: Taras BulbaChristoph von Dohnányi1989DeccaIves: Symphony No. 4 Ives: Symphony No. 4* / The Unanswered Question No. 2 Varèse: Amériques The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus*Christoph von Dohnányi1991–1994DeccaIves / Ruggles Ives: First Orchestral Set "Three Places in New England" / Set No. 2 for Small Orchestra* Ruggles: Men and Mountains / Sun-treader Seeger: Andante for Strings The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus*Christoph von Dohnányi1993–1994DeccaMahler: Symphony No. 1