Eugene Ormandy
Toronto Daily Star, May 15 1937
Eugene Ormandy (1899-1985) wasn't all that young when this photo appeared - he was 37, which I suppose might have been considered young in the music world. Born in Hungary, he was admitted to the Royal National Hungarian Academy of Music at the age of five as a violinist.
Emigrating to the United States in 1921, he became the conductor of the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra from 1931 to 1936. In 1936, he was appointed co-conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra; he became the orchestra's musical director and conductor in 1938, a position he held for 42 years. After his death, the U.S. Congress and President Ronald Reagan proclaimed that November 18 1985 would be "Eugene Ormandy Appreciation Day".
Created October 22, 2025.