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