Boston Symphony Orchestra |

Boston Symphony Orchestra

One of the oldest symphony orchestras in the United States. Founded in 1881 by patron G. Lee Higginson. The orchestra included qualified musicians from Austria and Germany (originally 60 musicians, later ca. 100). The first concert of the Boston Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor G. Henschel took place in 1881 in the Boston Music Hall. At the end of the 19th century The Boston Symphony Orchestra was led by the following conductors: V. Guericke (1884-89; 1898-1906), A. Nikish (1889-93), E. Paur (1893-98). Since 1900, the orchestra has been constantly performing in the Symphony Hall. Of great importance for the development of the performing skills of the Boston Symphony Orchestra was the activity of K. Mook, who led the team in 1906-18 (with a break; in 1908-12 music director M. Fidler). After the death of Higginson, who financed the activities of the orchestra, the Board of Trustees was formed. During the 1918-19 season, the Boston Symphony Orchestra performed under the arm. A. Rabo, he was replaced by P. Monteux (1919-24), who replenished the orchestra’s repertoire mainly with works of modern French music.

The heyday of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is associated with SA Koussevitsky, who headed it for 25 years (1924-49). He approved the characteristic features of the orchestra playing style, introduced many works of Russian music into the repertoire. (The Boston Symphony Orchestra is one of the first interpreters of P. I. Tchaikovsky’s work in the USA). At the initiative of Koussevitzky, the Boston Symphony Orchestra for the first time performed a number of works by contemporary composers – S. S. Prokofiev, A. Honegger, P. Hindemith, I. F. Stravinsky, B. Bartok, D. D. Shostakovich, as well as American authors – A. Copland, W. Piston, W. Shumen and others. Koussevitzky organized a six-week Berkshire Festival in Tanglewood (Massachusetts), where the Boston Symphony Orchestra performed. In 1949-62 the orchestra was directed by S. Munsch, he was replaced by E. Leinsdorf (since 1962). Since 1969, the Boston Symphony Orchestra has been led by W. Steinberg. The largest conductors of different countries – E. Ansermet, B. Walter, G. Wood, A. Casella and others, as well as composers – A. K. Glazunov, V. d’Andy, R. Strauss, D. Milhaud , O. Respighi, M. Ravel, S. S. Prokofiev and others.

The Boston Symphony Orchestra’s season runs from October to mid-August each year and includes over 70 concerts. Regularly (since 1900) public summer concerts are held, the so-called. Boston Pops, featuring approx. 50 musicians of the orchestra (since 1930 A. Fidler directed these popular programs). The Boston Symphony Orchestra also holds a series of concerts in major US cities, and has toured abroad since 1952 (in the USSR in 1956).

MM Yakovlev

Musical directors of the orchestra:

1881-1884 – George Henschel 1884-1889 – Wilhelm Guericke 1889-1893 – Arthur Nikisch 1893-1898 – Emil Paur 1898-1906 – Wilhelm Guericke 1906-1908 – Karl Muck 1908-1912 – Max Fiedler 1912-1918 – Karl Muck 1918-1919 — Henri Rabaud 1919-1924 – Pierre Monteux 1924-1949 – Sergei Koussevitzky 1949-196 – Charles Munch 1962-1969 – Erich Leinsdorf 1969-1972 – William Steinberg 1973-2002 — Seiji Ozawa 2004-2011 – James Levine 2014 — Andris Nelsons