Serge Koussevitzky (1874-1951) was a renowned Russian-born conductor, double bassist, and composer. He was influential in the music world due to his commitment to contemporary music and his establishment of the Koussevitzky Music Foundation and the Tanglewood Music Festival.
Early life and musical beginnings
Serge Alexandrovich Koussevitzky was born on July 26, 1874, in Vyshny Volochyok, Russia, to a family of musicians. His father was a professional trumpet player, and young Koussevitzky learned a variety of instruments from a young age. However, his father died when he was just 14, and his mother struggled to support the family.
At age 14, Koussevitzky auditioned for the Moscow Philharmonic Society and was offered a scholarship to study double bass and music theory. He developed into an accomplished double bass player, performing solos, a rare achievement for an instrument usually relegated to the back of the orchestra.
Career as a performer
Koussevitzky worked with the Bolshoi Theatre orchestra and later the Opera in Moscow as a double bassist. While there, he composed a concerto for double bass, and in 1902, he left the Opera to form his own orchestra in Moscow, which quickly gained renown for its performances of new works.
Marriage and personal life
In 1905, he married Natalia Ushkova, the daughter of a wealthy tea merchant. She was an art lover who supported her husband’s ambitions and encouraged him to study conducting. With her family’s wealth, Koussevitzky was able to finance his own orchestra and champion contemporary music.
Conducting career
Koussevitzky moved to Berlin in 1908, where he conducted the Berlin Philharmonic and continued to promote contemporary works, particularly by French and Russian composers. In 1917, after the Russian Revolution, Koussevitzky and his wife left Russia and moved to Paris.
In Paris, Koussevitzky continued to conduct and promote new music. He also started a publishing house, Editions Russes de Musique, which published works by contemporary Russian and French composers, including Igor Stravinsky and Sergei Prokofiev.
Boston Symphony Orchestra
In 1924, Koussevitzky was appointed conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, a position he held for 25 years. He quickly made the orchestra one of the best in the world, introducing American audiences to many new works by contemporary composers. His intense conducting style, combined with his commitment to musical education, made him a beloved figure in Boston.
In 1936, Koussevitzky established the Berkshire Music Center, which later became the Tanglewood Music Festival, in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. This summer music school and festival became one of the most important institutions for classical music in America.
Legacy
Koussevitzky was known for his dedication to contemporary music. In 1942, he founded the Koussevitzky Music Foundation with the purpose of commissioning new works by contemporary composers. This led to the creation of many significant works, including Benjamin Britten’s “Peter Grimes” and Béla Bartók’s “Concerto for Orchestra”.
Koussevitzky retired from the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1949 but continued to work with the Tanglewood Music Festival. He died in Boston on June 4, 1951.
Koussevitzky’s legacy is carried on through the work of the Koussevitzky Music Foundation and the Tanglewood Music Festival. He has been recognized as one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century, with a profound impact on American musical life. His focus on modern music and commitment to musical education have left an enduring mark on the classical music world.
Serge Koussevitzky (1874 – 1951)
Serge Koussevitzky (1874-1951) was a renowned Russian-born conductor, double bassist, and composer. He was influential in the music world due to his commitment to contemporary music and his establishment of the Koussevitzky Music Foundation and the Tanglewood Music Festival.
Early life and musical beginnings
Serge Alexandrovich Koussevitzky was born on July 26, 1874, in Vyshny Volochyok, Russia, to a family of musicians. His father was a professional trumpet player, and young Koussevitzky learned a variety of instruments from a young age. However, his father died when he was just 14, and his mother struggled to support the family.
At age 14, Koussevitzky auditioned for the Moscow Philharmonic Society and was offered a scholarship to study double bass and music theory. He developed into an accomplished double bass player, performing solos, a rare achievement for an instrument usually relegated to the back of the orchestra.
Career as a performer
Koussevitzky worked with the Bolshoi Theatre orchestra and later the Opera in Moscow as a double bassist. While there, he composed a concerto for double bass, and in 1902, he left the Opera to form his own orchestra in Moscow, which quickly gained renown for its performances of new works.
Marriage and personal life
In 1905, he married Natalia Ushkova, the daughter of a wealthy tea merchant. She was an art lover who supported her husband’s ambitions and encouraged him to study conducting. With her family’s wealth, Koussevitzky was able to finance his own orchestra and champion contemporary music.
Conducting career
Koussevitzky moved to Berlin in 1908, where he conducted the Berlin Philharmonic and continued to promote contemporary works, particularly by French and Russian composers. In 1917, after the Russian Revolution, Koussevitzky and his wife left Russia and moved to Paris.
In Paris, Koussevitzky continued to conduct and promote new music. He also started a publishing house, Editions Russes de Musique, which published works by contemporary Russian and French composers, including Igor Stravinsky and Sergei Prokofiev.
Boston Symphony Orchestra
In 1924, Koussevitzky was appointed conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, a position he held for 25 years. He quickly made the orchestra one of the best in the world, introducing American audiences to many new works by contemporary composers. His intense conducting style, combined with his commitment to musical education, made him a beloved figure in Boston.
In 1936, Koussevitzky established the Berkshire Music Center, which later became the Tanglewood Music Festival, in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. This summer music school and festival became one of the most important institutions for classical music in America.
Legacy
Koussevitzky was known for his dedication to contemporary music. In 1942, he founded the Koussevitzky Music Foundation with the purpose of commissioning new works by contemporary composers. This led to the creation of many significant works, including Benjamin Britten’s “Peter Grimes” and Béla Bartók’s “Concerto for Orchestra”.
Koussevitzky retired from the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1949 but continued to work with the Tanglewood Music Festival. He died in Boston on June 4, 1951.
Koussevitzky’s legacy is carried on through the work of the Koussevitzky Music Foundation and the Tanglewood Music Festival. He has been recognized as one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century, with a profound impact on American musical life. His focus on modern music and commitment to musical education have left an enduring mark on the classical music world.
Discography
Canto Interno
Luis Cabrera
Justyna Maj
Sylvia Huang