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About
Us
France and the United States
The French Presence
In New England
New England has one of the largest
French-speaking populations in the United States. In Boston
alone, the French cultural presence is well represented by many French
orientedorganizations. Among them, The French Symphony is the only one
dedicated to the French musical tradition and to the friendship between
France and the United States.
Why Create The
French Symphony?
Boston,
city of culture and tradition, has always had a strong French cultural
presence, and particularly in music. One should not forget that the
Boston Symphony Orchestra had, from the early twentieth century until
the sixties, a distinctive French sound due to the overwhelming
presence of French musicians who were brought to Boston by Serge
Koussevitsky (the fames Russian-French conductor). For a long time the
BSO was one of the best French orchestras in the world. The best French
conductors stepped on its podium, from Serge Koussevitsky to Pierre
Monteux, and especially Charles Munch, who served as its Music Director
for many years. With the retirement of many French musicians and the
arrival of German music directors the orchestra progressively
lost
its French essence as they wanted to give the orchestra a more German
sound. Progressively, the French repertoire was abandoned and the famed
French sound of the BSO
progressively disappeared.
Why Is The French
Symphony So Different?
The
orchestra is led by internationally renowned conductor Patrick Botti,
famous for his engaging style, his charisma, and his true vision in
innovative programming and concert presentation.
Patrick Botti studied with the best French teachers in the line of the
great French musical tradition. He brings to the orchestra and its
audiences that perspective and that knowledge.
When Maestro Botti arrived in
Boston
in 1982 as a Fulbright scholar, he was surprised to find that although
the French tradition was still present in the playing style of many
musicians, especially wind and brass players, there was no strong
French Symphonic presence in Boston. With the help of prominent
US and
French personalities of the world of arts, science and politics in Boston and New England, he created the Jamaica
Plain Symphony - French Symphony of Boston in 1984. He chose some of
the most talented New England musicians to join the
orchestra, musicians who shared his vision and goals.
The inaugural concert took
place in a historical Boston
theater in 1985 before a packed audience. The immensely successful
performance helped propel the orchestra to the forefront of the Boston musical scene.
The
orchestra performs works representing the French traditional
repertoire, not only including works by French composers but also works
by famous American composers who studied in France, such as Leonard Bernstein
and Aaron Copland.
Today, the fully professional orchestra is ranked as one of the top
ensembles in New England.
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