From the Archives: First-Chair Soloists

This episode brings us the playing of the San Francisco Symphony musicians down the years, from Henry Hadley's own choice for principal horn Walter Hornig, through long-serving stalwarts such as oboist Merrill Remington and flutist Paul Renzi, to concertmasters such as Louis Persinger, Michel Piastro, Naoum Blinder, and their present-day successor Alexander Barantschik. We'll hear the profound differences that can arise from changes of personnel in key positions, and how individual players changed their styles and techniques over the years.

Bach's "Brandenburg" Concertos

After becoming disenchanted with his position of Capellmeister to Leopold, Prince of Anhalt Cöthen, Bach prepared a special copy of six concertos to send to the Margrave of Brandenburg in hopes of employment. Now known as the Brandenburg concertos, the six works represent Bach’s musical resume.

From the Archives: Guest Conductors

Some of the Symphony's guest conductors have bequeathed recordings to posterity. Hear giants such as Leopold Stokowski and his two RCA Victor albums with the SFS, local 1940s favorite and future Broadway legend Meredith Willson (shown above left), or famed figures such as William Steinberg, Jean Martinon, Charles Munch, Sixten Ehrling, James Conlon, and others at the helm of the Symphony.

Sibelius's Symphony No. 1

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) witnessed in his lifetime the complete transformation of Western music. Written during his young party-animal days (a boozy brawl forced a break in its composition), Sibelius’ Symphony No. 1 was influenced by the symphonies of Tchaikovsky.

Stravinsky’s "Firebird"

Serge Diaghilev was turned down by four composers before turning to Igor Stravinsky to write the music for a new production by the Ballet Russe. Luckily, Stravinsky, eager to try his hand at a ballet, had already been working on the music for a month, and their artistic relationship went on to produce Petrushka and The Rite of Spring.