Boston Symphony Orchestra
Charles Munch, conductor


Access to the publicly broadcast BSO concerts from this era has been extremely difficult even for researchers. This series of DVDs will make these performances available for the first time since they were broadcast. Munch launched the BSO into television in 1955. He was an immensely popular conductor and well suited to being filmed.

This material represents some of the earliest televised concerts with the Boston Symphony and Charles Munch, and has been restored using the greatest care and state-of-the-art techniques. It is of exceptional musical interest and historical value.

This performance of extracts from The Creatures of Prometheus is a rare one, Munch having only conducted the ballet at the BSO in one season (four performances in total).

In addition to the overture, Munch added two further movements from the ballet, which are not performed as frequently. According to Richard Dyer, Munch’s performance of the Fourth Symphony is both fiery and fun, gracious and exhilarating. The fifth symphony perfectly encompasses Munch’s exuberance and panache.