Christoph von Dohnanyi, visionary conductor who elevated the Cleveland Orchestra to global prominence, dies at 95

Christoph von Dohnanyi, the German conductor whose 18-year collaboration with the Cleveland Orchestra was widely considered one of the finest musical combinations of the 20th Century, died in Munich, Germany on Saturday. He was 95.

Dohnanyi served as music director of the Cleveland Orchestra from 1984 to 2002, a period in which he recorded more than 100 works with the ensemble, making it the most-recorded American orchestra of the time. He was named the orchestra’s music director laureate in 2002. His concert programming was admired for its breadth of repertoire, spanning the late 18th century to recent and commissioned works.

The orchestra issued a statement late Sunday mourning Dohnanyi’s passing.

“Christoph von Dohnányi was a superb conductor and Music Director, respected the world o