Performance history by decade · 1950s 

During our time as the Portland Music Commission, the Portland Concert Association, and PCA Great Performances, we have brought many of history’s greatest performing artists to Maine. In this section, we have compiled a list, believed complete, of each season’s artist roster. Use the links below to navigate the list by decade.

  • 1949–50

    • Rochester Symphony
      Erich Leinsdorf, conductor
    • Clifford Curzon
    • Erica Morini
    • Bidu Sayao
    • Todd Duncan

  • 1950–51

    • Baltimore Symphony
      Reginald Stewart, conductor
    • Anna-Lisa Bjoerling
    • Robert Casadesus
    • Elena Nikolaidi

  • 1951–52

    • Indianapolis Symphony
      Fabien Sevitzky, conductor
    • Joseph Battista
    • Arthur Whittemore & Jack Lowe
    • Cesare Siepi
    • Robert Shaw Chorale
    • Ljuba Welitsch

  • 1952–53

    • Rudolf Serkin
    • Zino Francescatti
    • Richard Tucker
    • Carol Smith
    • Longines Symphonette
      Mishel Piastro, conductor
    • Rochester Symphony,
      Erich Leinsdorf, conductor
      Vitya Vronsky & Victor Babin, pianists

  • 1953–54

    • Barbara Gibson
    • George London
    • Jascha Heifetz
    • Helsinki University Chorus
      Martti Turunen, conductor
    • Cincinnati Symphony
      Thor Johnson, conductor

  • 1954–55

    • Vienna Academy Chorus
      Ferdinand Grossman, conductor
    • Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam
      Eduard van Beinum, conductor
    • Mildred Dilling
    • Rise Stevens
    • Rudolf Firkusny

  • 1955–56

    • Philharmonia Orchestra of London
      Herbert von Karajan, conductor
    • Claudio Arrau
    • Michael Rabin
    • Leontyne Price
    • The Men of Song

  • 1956–57

    • Philadelphia Orchestra
      Eugene Ormandy, conductor
      William Kincaid, flute
    • DePaur Opera Gala
    • Nan Merriman
    • Leonard Pennario
    • Beaux Arts Trio

  • 1957–58

    • National Symphony Orchestra,
      Howard Mitchell, conductor
      Dorothy Warenskjold, soprano
    • Nadine Connor & Eugene Conley
    • The Chanticleers
    • Concerto Festival
    • Stanley Babin

  • 1958–59

    • Arthur Rubinstein
    • New Orleans Philharmonic Symphony
      Alexander Hilsberg, conductor
    • Phyllis Curtin
    • Roman Totenberg
    • Arthur Whittemore & Jack Lowe