On the occasion of the 80th birthday of Pierre Monteux, April, 4, 1955, he conducted a Pension Fund Concert with the Boston Symphony in an all Beethoven Program , with a few surprises. This was a great occasion which was celebrated by famous musicians the world over. Letters and Telegrams started pouring in months before the actual concert. The Boston Symphony assembled an album containing these numerous salutations and greetings . The album was signed by each and every member of the Boston Symphony and this was presented to Maitre Monteux at that concert with several letters being read aloud. Charles Munch conducted two pieces written especially for the occasion, one by Stravinsky and one by Milhaud. Some of the outstanding letters and telegrams are reproduced in the grid below. Just click on each link to view.
The second grid of links shows publicity photos and some informal pictures taken at Hancock, Maine, where the Domaine School of Conductors is located.
