Georg Solti’s career really began after the end of World War II. For almost 25 years, he concentrated entirely on conducting operas. He was chief musical director of the Munich Opera from 1947 to 1951 and of the Frankfurt Opera from 1952 to 1961. Covent Garden excelled during his tenure as musical director (1961-1971).
In 1951 he conducted for the first time in Salzburg, Austria. At the end of the 1950’s he made his first recordings e.g. Der Ring des Nibelungen by Wagner with the Vienna Philharmonic.
In 1961 he was appointed as musical director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, but hardly ever worked in this position since the orchestra’s management had appointed an assistant without asking him (the assistant was none other than Zubin Mehta.)
In 1969 Georg Solti took over as director of the Chicago Symphony, and his second career as a conductor of orchestral music began. He remained in this post until 1991.
From 1979 to 1983 he was director of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 1992 Solti took over from Herbert von Karajan as artistic director of the Salzburg Easter Festival.
Here’s your opportunity to listen to Maestro Solti as he speaks about his life in music. No worries… most of this is in English.
