Chicago Symphony Orchestra; conductor: Georg Solti. Recorded in December 1978 in the Chicago Orchestra Hall. Sir Georg Solti (1912-1997) was one of the greatest conductors of the 20th Century. "The last of the great international orchestral and operatic maestri" (The Times) represented as a conductor of the old school the elegance and tastefulness of Central European music-making. His partnership with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra began in 1954; in 1969 he was named Music Director and held this post for a phenomenal 22 years. Solti is credited with greatly extending and enhancing the orchestra's worldwide reputation.