Boston Symphony Orchestr

About the Boston Symphony Orchestra The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is a renowned American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five." Founded in 1881 by Civil War veteran, businessman, and philanthropist Henry Lee Higginson, the BSO gave its inaugural concert on October 22, 1881, under the baton of its first conductor, Georg Henschel. Since its inception, the BSO has been committed to delivering exceptional music experiences and has become a staple in the cultural life of Boston. The orchestra performs at Boston's historic Symphony Hall, celebrated for its outstanding acoustics and considered one of the world's top concert halls since its opening on October 15, 1900. The BSO also spends its summers at Tanglewood, its picturesque summer home in the Berkshires of Lenox, Massachusetts, which hosts the Tanglewood Music Festival, one of the premier music festivals globally. Over the years, the BSO has been led by an illustrious list of music directors, including Wilhelm Gericke, Arthur Nikisch, Emil Paur, Max Fiedler, Karl Muck, Serge Koussevitzky, Charles Munch, Erich Leinsdorf, William Steinberg, Seiji Ozawa, James Levine, and, since 2014, Andris Nelsons. Under these leaders, the orchestra has embarked on numerous national and international tours, including groundbreaking visits to the Soviet Union and China. The BSO's commitment to contemporary music has been evident through its commissioning of new works from the world's most significant composers. It has also been instrumental in nurturing future generations of musicians and audiences through its educational and community engagement programs. The BSO's Tanglewood Music Center is a prestigious academy for advanced musical study, and the Tanglewood Learning Institute further enhances educational offerings. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the BSO expanded its online presence with BSO NOW, offering streaming of their performances to reach a global audience. The orchestra's discography includes Grammy Award-winning recordings, and it continues to maintain a strong presence on radio, television, and the internet. The BSO's archives, a rich resource for the orchestra and the community, contain a vast collection of documents, recordings, and memorabilia that chronicle the orchestra's storied history. The orchestra's mission extends beyond performance to encompass education and community engagement, ensuring that the joy of music is accessible to all. Today, the Boston Symphony Orchestra continues to uphold the vision of its founder, Henry Lee Higginson, by enriching lives through the power of music and maintaining its status as one of the world's leading orchestras.