Ravel with Boston Symphony Orchestra, Andris Nelsons, and more

Formed in 1881 by Henry Lee Higginson, the Boston Symphony Orchestra is a prominent U.S. ensemble known for acclaimed recordings, its Boston Pops offshoot, and historic leadership by renowned conductors including Serge Koussevitzky, Charles Munch, and Andris Nelsons.

Grammy Award-winning conductor Andris Nelsons serves as Music Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Gewandhauskapellmeister of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. An exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist, he has won multiple Grammy Awards for his Shostakovich recordings and completed major symphonic cycles of Bruckner, Beethoven, and Strauss.

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), a French composer of Swiss-Basque descent, is celebrated for his meticulous craftsmanship and masterful orchestration. Often associated with Impressionism, he blended classical forms with modernism, jazz, and Spanish influences. His iconic works include Boléro, Pavane pour une infante défunte, and the ballet Daphnis et Chloé. He remains one of France's most popular composers.

Richard Strauss, born in Munich, Germany, was a leading late Romantic and early Modern German composer and conductor. Renowned for his tone poems, including "Also sprach Zarathustra", and operas like "Der Rosenkavalier", he mastered orchestral and vocal composition. Strauss collaborated notably with librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthal. He was also a successful conductor of orchestras and director of opera houses.

Born in Rheinfelden, Germany, Anne-Sophie Mutter is a celebrated violinist known for her technical brilliance and emotive performances. A prodigy, she debuted with the Berlin Philharmonic under Herbert von Karajan at 13. She's recorded extensively with Deutsche Grammophon, with highlights like Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. An advocate for young musicians, she founded the Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation. Her honors include four Grammys, Germany's Merit Cross, and collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma and André Previn. Notable works include premieres by Penderecki and Rihm, and her charitable activities are widely recognized.