This exhibit was created as part of the Koussevitzky 150 celebrations at Tanglewood.
A celebration of the 150th anniversary of legendary conductor Serge Koussevitzky's birth and the 100th anniversary of his appointment as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. During his 25-year tenure at the BSO (1924-1949), Koussevitzky championed nearly every significant living composer and made peerless recordings of Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, Debussy, Prokofiev and many more. This series brings together the best of these recordings with the voices of those who knew Koussevitzky best from Leonard Bernstein to Aaron Copland to Nicholas Slonimsky. The series is produced by Tom Godell, a 50-year public radio veteran and founder of the Koussevitzky Recordings Society.
1. Koussevitzky In His Own Words
One hundred years ago, Serge Koussevitzky came to America as Music Director of the Boston Symphony. In this first episode, we hear from Koussevitzky who outlines the goals he set for himself and his new orchestra. In addition, the program includes complete recordings of Mussorgsky's Khovanshchina Prelude, Stravinsky's Petrouchka Suite, Roy Harris's Symphony No. 3, and Brahms' Academic Festival Overture.
2. Koussevitzky as 'Animateur'
Author Nicholas Slonimsky claimed that conductor Serge Koussevitzky had a rare gift: he was an 'animateur' (animator) of music and musicians. In this episode Koussevitzky leads the Boston Symphony and animates Corelli's Suite for Strings, Mozart's Symphony 36, and Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet. Opera impresario Boris Goldovsky and broadcaster Martin Bookspan elaborate further on Koussevitzky's unique gifts.
3. Koussevitzky as Colorist
Conductor Serge Koussevitzky was an absolute master of orchestral color. How he consistently achieved such extraordinary beauty of sound is explained by violinist Harry Ellis Dickson, bassist John Barwicki, and hornist Harold Meek -- all members of the Boston Symphony during Koussevitzky's time. Musical selections include Ravel's Bolero (in 'accidental' stereo), Liadov's Enchanted Lake, and Ravel's orchestral version of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.
4. The Koussevitzkys at Home
Charles O'Connell produced classical music recordings for RCA Victor in the 1930s and early 40s. He detailed his experiences in his charming book, The Other Side of the Record. WMNR's John Ryden reads portions of the book relating to Koussevitzky's home life. Musical selections include Copland's El Salon Mexico and Schubert's Unfinished Symphony from recordings by the Boston Symphony plus a rare broadcast of Koussevitzky and the New York Philharmonic in Ravel's Daphnis and Chloe.
5. Debussy with Koussevitzky's Orchestra in Russia
In the fall of 1913, Serge Koussevitzky invited Debussy to conduct his orchestra in Russia for three weeks of concerts. We follow the composer's trail to Moscow and St. Petersburg, and present all of Koussevitzky's commercial recordings of Debussy's music, including La Mer and Afternoon of a Faun with the Boston Symphony.
6. Koussevitzky, the 3 Bs, and the Central Line
Serge Koussevitzky identified a 'central line' in the music of all great composers. In this hour, we offer his perspective on the music of Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. Willis Page, a member of the Boston Symphony in Koussevitzky's time, describes a unique performance of Brahms' 4th symphony led by Koussevitzky just a few weeks after the death of his beloved wife Natalie.
7. Koussevitzky at Tanglewood Part One
Serge Koussevitzky first brought the Boston Symphony to Tanglewood in 1936, but it wasn't until the waning days of WWII that he and his orchestra made their first recordings there. We present Bach's Fifth Brandenburg Concerto and Mozart's 33rd Symphony. Koussevitzky student Lukas Foss and Berkshire Music Center opera director Boris Goldovsky share their recollections of those unforgettable post-war summers.
8. Koussevitzky: More American Than We Americans
Leonard Bernstein proclaimed that Russian-born conductor Serge Koussevitzky was "more American than we Americans in his passion for American music." Koussevitzky's recordings prove the point. We present Hymn & Fuguing Tune 2 by Henry Cowell, Serenade for Flute, Harp & Strings by Howard Hanson, Prelude and Allegro for Organ and Orchestra by Walter Piston, and Appalachian Spring by Copland. The latter describes what it was like to have a Koussevitzky premiere. Composers David Diamond and Howard Hanson offer their reminiscences of the great conductor.
9. Koussevitzky's Sibelius
Composer Jean Sibelius proclaimed: "I have never heard my music better performed than under Dr. Koussevitzky." With the Boston Symphony, Koussevitzky conducts Tapiola and Pohjola's Daughter. Also, perhaps the greatest of all Sibelius recordings: Koussevitzky leads the BBC Symphony in Sibelius's 7th. Koussevitzky's concertmaster Richard Burgin and violinist/author Harry Ellis Dickson recall Koussevitzky's uncanny ability to identify with a composer and his music.
10. Koussevitzky & Bartok's Concerto
When Serge Koussevitzky commissioned a new orchestral work from Béla Bartók, who lay dying in a New York hospital, he did not expect the ailing composer to live to complete the score. Bartók rallied, produced one of his greatest masterpieces -- the Concerto for Orchestra, and even felt strong enough to attend Koussevitzky's rehearsals. Boston Symphony violinist Harry Ellis Dickson describes the scene at Orchestra Hall the day before the premiere, and we hear Koussevitzky perform the music in concert. Also on the program, Strauss's Don Juan.
11. Koussevitzky's Prokofiev
Serge Koussevitzky conducts blazing performances of Prokofiev's Classical Symphony, Romeo & Juliet, and Lt. Kije. Isaac Stern recalls the time he played Prokofiev's First Concerto with Koussevitzky, and trumpeter Roger Voisin explains how a parking attendant nearly halted a Tanglewood performance of the Kije Suite.
12. Koussevitzky at Tanglewood Part Two (1950)
Serge Koussevitzky conducted his beloved Boston Symphony at Tanglewood for the last time in the summer of 1950. RCA Victor was there, and made four splendid recordings: Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf with Eleanor Roosevelt, Haydn's Oxford Symphony, Mozart's A Little Night Music, and even a Toy Symphony. We present these great performances along with reminiscences of Harry Ellis Dickson, Lukas Foss, and Leonard Bernstein.
13. Koussevitzky: the London Philharmonic and Farewell
Series finale. Following his retirement from the Boston Symphony in August 1949, Koussevitzky was in demand throughout the world as guest conductor. Among his final engagements was the London Philharmonic in June 1950, where he gave a devastating concert performance of Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony. That fall, Koussevitzky led his final Boston Symphony recording session, concluding with Edvard Grieg's The Last Spring.