Online Exhibits
Located on the orchestra and first balcony levels of Symphony Hall, this season’s BSO archival exhibits focus on the legacy of Serge Koussevitzky (1874-1951), the BSO’s 9th conductor, and the first to hold the title of Music Director. The year 2024 marks the 150th anniversary of Koussevitzky’s birth and the 100th anniversary of his appointment as leader of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. His commitment to supporting the next generation of musical artistry (both performers and composers) was profound and myriad.
Explore the Exhibits
Current Exhibits: Serge Koussevitzky's 100th Anniversary
Explore news clippings, photographs, letters, and audiovisual materials related to Serge Koussevitzky on the 100th anniversary of his appointment as BSO conductor in 1924.
A Birthday Salute to Ann Hobson Pilot
The BSO celebrates a pioneering harpist on the occasion of her 80th birthday last November.
A Century of Song: Roland Hayes and the Boston Symphony Orchestra
The BSO celebrates the 100th anniversary of Roland Hayes' appearance as the first Black soloist to perform with the BSO on November 15, 1923.
Shostakovich: Under Stalin's Shadow
In this online exhibit, enjoy news clippings, photographs, and other documents of interest pertaining to early BSO performances of six of Dmitri Shostakovich's symphonies, as well as selections from Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk.
Previous Exhibits
These exhibits from previous seasons traced the changing face of the orchestra, highlighted some extra-orchestral uses of Symphony Hall, spotlighted the history of the horn and trumpet sections of the BSO, displayed selections from a recently donated baton collection, dug into the construction of a Symphony Hall seat, and examined Black voices at the BSO and Pops.
At the start of each season, BSO Archives staff select documents, photographs, and artifacts from the Archives’ permanent collection for display in exhibit cases located throughout the orchestra and first balcony levels of Symphony Hall. The Symphony Hall Exhibit Program as it exists today was inaugurated in 2000 when the BSO celebrated Symphony Hall’s Centennial. Because Symphony Hall does not have a gallery or museum space, the decision was made to incorporate the displays into the hallways so that patrons visiting Symphony Hall would be able to discover different aspects of the BSO’s and Symphony Hall’s history as part of the concert-going experience. Each case is organized around a theme inspired by an anniversary, an artistic or programmatic emphasis, a significant event, the acquisition of a document or artifact by the Archives, or just for the fun of it!
Please send comments, feedback, and suggestions to archives@bso.org.