{"product_id":"25571-szell-george-signed-photograph-with-an-affectionate-ksss","title":"Szell, George. (1897–1970) Signed Photograph  \"WITH AN AFFECTIONATE KSSS!\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eSigned Editta Sherman of NY bust portrait photograph of the great conductor, who is shown holding a musical score. He has signed and inscribed with a most unusual inscription in bold blue fountain pen ink to the head, \"To sweet little Bobby, with an affectionate 'KSSS!' \/ George Szell \/ 11\/6\/62.\" In very fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.5 x 25.2 cm).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eIn 1915, at the age of 18, Szell won an appointment with Berlin's Royal Court Opera (now known as the Staatsoper). There, he was befriended by its Music Director, Richard Strauss. Strauss instantly recognized Szell's talent and was particularly impressed with how well the teenager conducted Strauss's music. The two remained friends after Szell left the Royal Court Opera in 1919. In the fifteen years during and after World War I Szell worked with opera houses and orchestras in Europe. In 1946, Szell was asked to become the Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra, beginning the longest tenure of his musical life, for which he is justly remembered as one of the most important conductors of the 20th century.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe recipient was the wife of Allen Geismer, a Cleveland native and later a noted corporate lawyer and cultural activist who was legal representative of many prominent musicians and an honorary life trustee of the The Msuical Arts Association, sponsor of the Cleveland Orchestra. \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Schubertiade Music and Arts","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":62709716320415,"sku":"25571","price":500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/4826\/7423\/files\/SzellGeorgeSp25571.jpg?v=1772817664","url":"https:\/\/www.schubertiademusic.com\/products\/25571-szell-george-signed-photograph-with-an-affectionate-ksss","provider":"Schubertiade Music and Arts","version":"1.0","type":"link"}