Bartok with Mahler's Third Symphony, The Cleveland Orchestra, and more

Cleveland Orchestra (founded 1918 by Adella Prentiss Hughes) is a top US classical ensemble; NYT: “best in America.” Led by Franz Welser-Möst since 2002.

Gustav Mahler was an Austro-Bohemian Romantic composer and conductor who acted as a bridge between the 19th-century Austro-German tradition and the modernism of the early 20th century. Born in Bohemia, he rose to prominence as one of the leading conductors of his generation, notably serving as director of the Vienna Court Opera. His highly influential oeuvre consists primarily of ten symphonies and several song cycles with orchestra, which are celebrated for their immense scale, philosophical depth, and forward-looking composition techniques that deeply influenced 20th-century music.

Béla Bartók was a Hungarian composer, pianist, and ethnomusicologist, widely regarded as one of the most important composers of the 20th century. Alongside Zoltán Kodály, he pioneered the study of folk music, capturing indigenous Central European melodies and integrating them into his modernist classical compositions. His notable works include his six string quartets, the opera Bluebeard's Castle, and the Concerto for Orchestra. Faced with the rise of fascism in Europe, he immigrated to the United States in 1940, where he continued to compose until his death from leukemia in 1945.

Austrian conductor Franz Welser-Most, born in Linz, is celebrated for his precise and disciplined classical style, encompassing opera and symphonic works. As Music Director of The Cleveland Orchestra, he fosters musical excellence and innovative programming. He holds numerous awards, including the Kennedy Center Gold Medal in the Arts and an Honorary Ring from the Vienna Philharmonic, with whom he frequently collaborates. His acclaimed recordings include works by Richard Strauss and Bruckner.