The Cleveland Orchestra, under the leadership of Franz Welser-Möst since 2002, is considered “America’s finest” by The New York Times. Founded in 1918, the orchestra performs at Severance Music Center, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful concert halls in the United States. The 2026–27 season marks Welser-Möst’s 25th and final year as music director and makes him the longest-serving music director in the orchestra’s history. During his tenure, he expanded the orchestra’s commitment to new music and renewed the tradition of opera performance at Severance Music Center. Welser-Möst is seventh Music Director of The Cleveland Orchestra following Christoph von Dohnányi, Lorin Maazel, and György Széll, who led the ensemble from 1946 to 1970. The Cleveland Orchestra’s concert in Budapest includes Martinů’s Symphony No. 2, which was commissioned by the Czech community of Cleveland and premiered by the orchestra in 1943.