Synopsis
The Russian Revolution of 1917 wiped out many family fortunes, and many penniless Russian émigrés who fled the Bolsheviks had to start from scratch in exile.
Natalie Koussevitzky, however, was not one of them. Her family fortune was fairly diversified, which meant that even the loss of her large Russian holdings left her with considerable wealth elsewhere. And since she was married to the Russian émigré music publisher, conductor and new music impresario Serge Koussevitzky, that meant a number of famous 20th century composers benefitted as well. It’s not an exaggeration to say that, culturally speaking, without her fortune, the history of 20th century music would have been noticeably poorer.
When Natalie died, Serge Koussevitzky established a Music Foundation in her honor. One of the Foundation’s memorial commissions was premiered on today’s date in 1943 by the Boston Symphony, led by Serge Koussevitzky. This was a three-part symphonic Ode written by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky, and dedicated to Natalie’s memory.
Curiously, the second movement of Stravinsky’s Ode was actually a bit of recycled film music originally intended for the Orson Welles version of the English novel Jane Eyre. In the final cut, Welles opted for a Bernard Herrmann score instead.
Music Played in Today's Program
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): Ode; London Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor; BMG 68865
On This Day
Births
1870 - French composer and organist Louis Vierne, in Poitiers
1930 - Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu, in Tokyo
1953 - English composer Robert Saxon, in London
Deaths
1834 - French composer François Boieldieu, 58, in Jarcy
Premieres
1903 - Nielsen: Helios Overture, in Copenhagen
1943 - Stravinsky: Ode (in memory of Natalie Koussevitzky), by the Boston Symphony conducted by Serge Koussevitzky
1960 - Prokofiev: opera The Story of a Real Man (posthumously) at the Bolshoi in Moscow. A semi-public performance of this opera was given in Leningrad on Dec. 3, 1948, but the opera was rejected by Soviet authorities for subsequent performances during the composer’s lifetime.
1966 - Stravinsky: Requiem Canticles, in Princeton, with Robert Craft conducting
1992 - Ligeti: Violin Concerto, in Cologne, by the Ensemble Moderne conducted by Peter Eötvös, and Saschko Gawriloff the soloist
1993 - Corigliano: Troubadours (Variations for Guitar and Orchestra), at the Ordway Music Theater in St. Paul, with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra conducted by Hugh Wolff, and guitar soloist Sharon Isbin
1999 - Kernis: Garden of Light and Torke: Four Seasons (both commissioned by the Disney Company at the urging of its Chief Executive, Michael Eisner), for the Millennium season of the New York Philharmonic, with Kurt Masur conducting the orchestra, vocal soloists, and choirs in both pieces.
Others
1739 - Handel completes his Concerto Grosso No. 4 (Gregorian date: Oct. 19)
1898 - The first issue of the magazine Musical America is published
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About Composers Datebook®
Host John Birge presents a daily snapshot of composers past and present, with timely information, intriguing musical events and appropriate, accessible music related to each.
He has been hosting, producing and performing classical music for more than 25 years. Since 1997, he has been hosting on Minnesota Public Radio's Classical Music Service. He played French horn for the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra and performed with them on their centennial tour of Europe in 1995. He was trained at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy.