Boston Symphony Orchestra with Andris Nelsons, Emanuel Ax, and more

Founded in 1881, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, supported by banker Henry Lee Higginson, is a pillar of U.S. orchestral culture. Its legendary recordings, especially on RCA Victor, benefit from Boston's Symphony Hall acoustics. Known for premieres of works by Stravinsky and Bartók, it has been led by conductors Monteux, Koussevitsky, and Ozawa. It also has ties with Tanglewood Music Festival and contributed to film scores like Spielberg's "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan" with John Williams.

Riga-born conductor; Music Director Boston Symphony & Gewandhauskapellmeister Leipzig. DG exclusive; known for Shostakovich, Bruckner & Beethoven cycles; 4 Grammys.

Born in Lvov, Poland, Emanuel Ax is a celebrated pianist known for his classical repertoire and collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma. He won the Arthur Rubinstein Competition in 1974 and the Avery Fisher Prize in 1979. Ax's recordings have earned him multiple Grammy Awards, and he frequently performs with renowned orchestras and at prestigious festivals like Ravinia and Tanglewood. He has recorded for the Sony Classical label and teaches at Juilliard.

Born in Queens, New York, John Williams is an American composer and conductor celebrated for iconic film scores. His musical style blends romanticism with complex orchestration, featuring memorable melodies and leitmotifs. He is renowned for collaborations with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, creating themes for Star Wars, Jaws, E.T., Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter. Williams has garnered numerous accolades, including 5 Academy Awards and 27 Grammy Awards.

Violinist Gil Shaham, born in Illinois, raised in Israel, rose to fame in the 1990s with Grammy-winning works like Barber's Violin Concerto. He collaborated with André Previn, Eric Jacobsen, played a Stradivarius, and founded Canary Classics. Shaham was Avery Fisher Prize winner, and Instrumentalist of the Year (2012).