Greatest Classical Music Conductors

Classical Conductors Herbert Von Karajan and Leonard Bernstein

Criteria: These Classical Conductors are ranked for their innovation and influence, as well as their aesthetic importance, historical significance and lasting popularity.

(Plus a few well known Orchastras they conducted)

Edited By: Brian

First published: 2025-01-23

1. Herbert Von Karajan (1908-1989)
• (Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic)

2. Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
• (New York Philharmonic)

3. Wilhelm Furtwängler (1886-1954)
• (Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic)

4. Carlos Kleiber (1930-2004)
• (Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Bavarian State Orchestra)

5. Claudio Abbado (1933-2014)
• (Berlin Philharmonic, Chamber Orchestra of Europe)

6. Arturo Toscanini (1867-1957)
• (NBC Symphony Orchestra, La Scala)

7. George Szell (1897- 1970)
• (Cleveland Orchestra, Concertgebouw Orchestra)

8. Otto Klemperer (1885-1973)
• (Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra)

9. John Eliot Gardiner (1943- )
• (Orchestra Revolutionaire Et Romantique, CBC Vancouver Orchestra)

10. Colin Davis (1927-2013)
• (Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra)

11. Simon Rattle (1955- )
• (Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra)

12. Bernard Haitink (1929-2021)
• (London Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra)

13. Karl Böhm (1894-1981)
• (Metropolitan Opera, Hamburg State Opera)

14. Nikolaus Harnoncourt (1929-2016)
• (La Scala, Concertgebouw Orchestra)

15. Leopold Stokowski (1882-1977)
• (Philadelphia Orchestra, American Symphony Orchestra)

16. Adrian Boult (1889-1983)
• (BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic)

17. Pierre Boulez (1925-2016)
• (BBC Symphony Orchestra , New York Philharmonic)

18. George Solti (1912-1997)
• (Chicago Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra)

19. Bruno Walter (1876-1962)
• (Riga Opera, Vienna Philharmonic)

20. Rafael Kubelik (1914-1996)
• (Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra)

21. Fritz Reiner (1888-1888)
• (Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra)

22. Carlos Maria Giulini (1914-2005)
• (Philharmonia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra)

23. Eugene Ormandy (1899-1985)
• (Philadelphia Orchestra)

24. John Barbirolli (1899-1970)
• (Houston Symphony, New York Philharmonic)

25. James Levine (1943-2021)
• (Metropolitan Opera, Boston Symphony Orchestra)

26. Lorin Maazel (1930-2014)
• (The Cleveland Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra)

27. Neville Marriner (1924-2016)
• (The Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra)

28. Michael Tilson Thomas (1944- )
• (San Francisco Symphony, New York Philharmonic)

29. Ferenc Fricsay (1914-1963)
• (Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Budapest Opera)

30. Yevgeny Mravinsky (1903-1988)
• (The Leningrad Philharmonic)

Classical music conductor Herbert Von Karajan

Herbert Von Karajan
Classical music conductor Leonard Bernstein

Leonard Bernstein
Classical music conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler

Wilhelm Furtwängler
Classical music conductor Carlos Kleiber

Carlos Kleiber

1. Berlin Philharmonic
2. Leningrad Philharmonic
3. Vienna Philharmonic
4. Chicago Symphony Orchestra
5. New York Philharmonic
6. Montreal Symphony Orchestra
7. The Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields
8. Orchestra Revolutionaire Et Romantique
9. BBC Symphony Orchestra
10. Cleveland Orchestra

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