Russian-born conductor, composer and double-bassist Serge Koussevitzky died on this day in 1951 – aged 76.
Maestro Koussevitsky served as Music Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1924 to 1949 – and premiered a number of cornerstone orchestral works including: Ravel’s orchestration of Pictures at an Exhibition, Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra, Prokofiev’s 1st Violin Concerto, Gershwin’s 2nd Rhapsody – and Prokofiev’s 2nd and 4th Symphonies.
RANDALL THOMPSON | THE LAST WORDS OF DAVID | SERGE KOUSSEVITZKY & BOSTON SYMPHONY WITH TANGLEWOOD FESTIVAL CHORUS | 1950
