Serge Koussevitzky (1874-1951)

Milestones in Serge Koussevitzky's Life

• July 26, 1874

  Serge Koussevitzky is born in Vyshny Volochyok, Russia.

• ca. 1888

  Receives scholarship to play bass at the Moscow Philharmonic Institute.

• ca. 1894

  Joins the Bolshoi Theatre orchestra as a bass player.

  Sources differ on whether his first solo debut was in 1896 or 1901.

• 1902

  Marries dancer Nadezhda Galat.

• 1903

  First recital in Berlin.

• 1905

  Divorces Nadezhda and marries Natalie Ushkova, heiress to a tea merchant family fortune.

• 1906

  Hires a student orchestra in Berlin to learn conducting.

• 1908

  Hires the Berlin Philharmonic and makes his conducting debut.

• 1909

  Founds the publishing company Éditions Russes de Musique to create economic opportunities for composers.

  A related independent imprint is formed in 1914 based on the German company Gutheil which Koussevitzky purchases. Headquarters move to Paris in 1920. Firm is sold to Boosey & Hawkes on March 1, 1947.

• 1910, 1912, 1914

  Takes an orchestra by riverboat to towns along the Volga River.

• 1917-1920

  After the Russian Revolution, Koussevitzky accepts a position as conductor of the newly named State Philharmonic Orchestra of Petrograd.

• 1920

  Leaves Soviet Russia for Europe.

• 1921-1928

  Organizes and conducts the Concerts Koussevitzky series in Paris.

  After his appointment to the BSO in 1924, he would return to Paris to continue the series in between duties in Boston. The concert series focuses on contemporary music.

  View dossier on the Koussevitzky concerts in Paris (1921-1928)

• 1924

  Appointment as the BSO's ninth conductor.

  The first season is full of new music previously performed in Paris.

• 1925

  France awards him “the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.”

• 1926

  Conducts the BSO in the orchestra's second ever radio broadcast.

  The BSO's first ever radio broadcast was conducted by guest conductor Eugene Goossens on January 23, 1926.

• 1926

  Brown University awards him an honorary doctorate; thereafter he is referred to as Dr. Koussevitzky.

• March 1927

  Organizes a week long festival celebrating the 100th anniversary of Beethoven's death.

• 1927-28

  Harvard awards Koussevitzky an honorary doctorate degree.

• 1928

  Conducts the BSO in the orchestra's first electrical recording.

• 1929-1931

  Organizes and conducts premieres of commissions for the BSO's 50th anniversary.

  This marks the first time the orchestra has ever commissioned new works.

• 1936

  Conducts first BSO concert in the Berkshires.

• 1939

  The Koussevitzkys purchase the Buckingham Estate in Lenox, Mass as their permanent home in the Berkshires.

  The two name the estate Seranak, an anagram for Serge and Natalie Koussevitzky.

• 1939

  Organizes a festival to celebrate American Composers.

• 1940

  Founds the Tanglewood Music Center.

• 1941

  Serge and Natalie Koussevitzky become U.S. citizens.

• 1942

  The Boston Symphony Orchestra is unionized.

• 1942

  Founds the Koussevitzky Music Foundation to commission new works, in memory of his wife Natalie.

  Natalie Koussevitzky died on January 11, 1942.

  Learn More About the Koussevitzky Music Foundation

• 1944

  American composers honor Koussevitzky with a dinner to thank him for his dedication in promoting American works.

• 1947

  Becomes the first BSO conductor to be given the title Music Director.

• 1947

  Marries Olga Naumova.

• 1949

  Retires from post as BSO Music Director.

• 1950

  Serves as Tanglewood’s Music Director, and conducts his last concert at Tanglewood on August 13, 1950.

• June 4, 1951

  Dies in Boston.