Arthur Fiedler

Composers

Biography

Born: December 17, 1894; Boston, MA   Died: July 10, 1979; Brookline, MA  
A populist programmer, avuncular podium presence, and constant visitor to small-town concert halls and living room televisions, Arthur Fiedler personified orchestral music in America. He was less glamorous, less intellectual, and in many ways less respected than Leonard Bernstein, but those deficiencies worked to Fiedler's advantage in the minds of ordinary Americans. He also enjoyed greater longevity on his home turf -- nearly 50 years in the Read more national limelight, as opposed to Bernstein's one decade of unmatched glory in New York before running off to Europe to become another gray eminence. Fiedler's success, though, was also the source of some frustration; he was forever pigeonholed as a pops conductor.

He had studied violin with his father, Emanuel Fiedler, a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (as was Arthur's uncle Benny). In 1909 his father took him to Berlin to study violin with Willy Hess; young Arthur also took a class in chamber music with Ernst von Dohnányi and studied conducting. In 1913 he and two Fiedlers unrelated to him formed the Fiedler Trio. But he fled World War I in 1915, settling into the second-violin section of the BSO under Karl Muck. Fiedler later moved to the viola section, and doubled on celesta and other keyboard and percussion instruments. In 1924 he organized the 25-member Boston Sinfonietta (later known as the Arthur Fiedler Sinfonietta), drawn from members of the BSO, taking it on tour through New England.

In 1929 Fiedler started a series of free outdoor summer concerts at the Esplanade on the banks of Boston's Charles River, playing popular American music and light classical pieces. Soon the concerts attracted audiences in the thousands. The BSO noticed, and in 1930 engaged Fiedler to conduct the Boston Pops, succeeding Alfredo Casella. He remained with the Pops until his death, gaining the distinction of holding the longest music directorship of an American orchestra. For nearly half a century he maintained the Esplanade formula of popular music mixed with classics, some of them new but rather light works such as (Walton's Façade, Shchedrin's Carmen Ballet). Concert conditions were poor -- the audience was seated at tables, clinking beer glasses and pushing chairs around -- but Fiedler seemed to revel in the festive atmosphere.

He was a social animal, and he loved to ride on fire engines. Fiedler's antics were harmless and, indeed, contributed to his Everyman appeal, but his willingness to make commercial endorsements for everything from whisky to orange juice hurt his prestige in conservative Boston; he was never allowed to conduct in the BSO's regular subscription series (although he did record Dvorák's "New World" Symphony with the orchestra). Still, he was tremendously popular nationwide; he led pops concerts by the San Francisco Symphony from 1951 to 1978, and also began to make international appearances as a guest conductor in 1957. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977, and a footbridge near the Esplanade bears his name.

Fiedler and the Boston Pops recorded from the 1950s through the 1970s with RCA records (with brief excursions to other labels toward the end), issuing disc after disc of classical overtures and ballet pieces, as well as arrangements of movie themes, Beatles hits, and other pop tunes. Pops concerts were packaged as fast-moving one-hour shows on the PBS television network. Critics usually ignored or snickered at Fiedler's handling of pop music, but they almost always approved of the verve he brought to light and not-so-light classics; indeed, his 1930s recording of a particular Beethoven overture was held in higher esteem than Toscanini's. Whether Fiedler's Beethoven Seventh could have stood up to Toscanini's will never be known. Read less

Featured Arthur Fiedler CDs & DVDs:

Stardust - Enchanted Mood Music / Fiedler, Boston Pops
Stardust - Enchanted Mood Music / Fiedler, Boston Pops
Release Date: 02/21/2008   Label: Rca  
Catalog: 35045   Number of Discs: 1
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Phase 4 Stereo - The Blue Danube / Fiedler, Boston Pops
Phase 4 Stereo - The Blue Danube / Fiedler, Boston Pops
Release Date: 11/11/1997   Label: Decca  
Catalog: 455154   Number of Discs: 1
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Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue, Etc / Maazel, Fiedler
Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue, Etc / Maazel, Fiedler
Release Date: 10/20/1998   Label: Penguin Classics  
Catalog: 460612   Number of Discs: 1
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Prokofiev, Chopin, Liszt / Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops
Prokofiev, Chopin, Liszt / Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops
Release Date: 01/11/2000   Label: Rca Victor Living Stereo  
Catalog: 63532   Number of Discs: 1
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Lullaby / Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops
Lullaby / Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops
Release Date: 02/11/1992   Label: Rca  
Catalog: 60876   Number of Discs: 1
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Browse 1-25 of 143 Available Recordings
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  • 1.
    It's A Grand Night For Singing: The Music Of Rogers & Hammerstein
    Label: Dynamic Nostalgia   Catalog: 3588 Release Date: 06/04/2013   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Richard Rodgers,  Sigmund Romberg,  Jerome Kern
    Performer:  Gordon MacRae,  Shirley [Partridge Family] Jones,  Jan Clayton,  John Raitt  ... 
    Conductor:  Richard Rodgers,  Alfredo Antonini,  Robert Russell Bennett,  Ron Goodwin  ... 
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  • 2.
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: A Glorious Century Of Light Music
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: A Glorious Century Of Light Music
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 5200 Release Date: 04/09/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jerome Kern,  Vernon Duke,  Ron Goodwin,  Jule Styne  ... 
    Conductor:  Cyril Ornadel,  Paul Mauriat,  Ron Goodwin,  Annuncio Paolo Mantovani  ... 
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  • 3.
    Strauss Family Waltzes / Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops
    Strauss Family Waltzes / Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops
    Label: Rca   Catalog: 61688 Release Date: 07/07/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Strauss Jr.,  Josef Strauss,  Eduard Strauss
    Conductor:  Arthur Fiedler
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Pops
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  • 4.
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: Christmas Celebration
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: Christmas Celebration
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 5185 Release Date: 11/08/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  James Pierpont,  John Henry Hopkins Jr.,  Felix Mendelssohn,  Traditional  ... 
    Conductor:  Billy Vaughn,  Percy Faith,  George Melachrino,  Angela Morley  ... 
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  • 5.
    Franz Liszt: Master And Magician [25 CDs & 1 DVD]
    Franz Liszt: Master And Magician [25 CDs & 1 DVD]
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 775542 Release Date: 07/26/2011   Number of Discs: 26
    Composer:  Franz Liszt,  Franz Schubert
    Performer:  Artur Rubinstein,  Van Cliburn,  Byron Janis,  Philippe Entremont  ... 
    Conductor:  Alfred Wallenstein,  Eugene Ormandy,  Fritz Reiner,  Seiji Ozawa  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra,  Philadelphia Orchestra,  Chicago Symphony Orchestra  ... 
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  • 6.
    Pure... Classical
    Pure... Classical
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 7915022 Release Date: 07/05/2011   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  George Frideric Handel,  Arcangelo Corelli  ... 
    Performer:  Glenn Gould,  Alicia De Larrocha,  André Watts,  Anthony Newman  ... 
    Conductor:  Vladimir Spivakov,  Sir Thomas Beecham,  Robert Salter,  Eugene Ormandy  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra,  Tafelmusik,  Brandenburg Collegium
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  • 7.
    Celebrate America - Songs For The 4th Of July
    Celebrate America - Songs For The 4th Of July
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 001575202 Release Date: 06/21/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  John Stafford Smith,  Traditional,  Jay Ungar,  Aaron Copland  ... 
    Conductor:  Eric Rodgers,  Frederick Fennell,  Jerold D. Ottley,  Zubin Mehta  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Fife & Drum of the Eastman Wind Ensemble,  Duel,  Eastman Wind Ensemble  ... 
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  • 8.
    Gershwin / K. & M. Labeque, Chailly, Maazel, Cleveland Orchestra [7-CD Collector's Edition]
    Gershwin / K. & M. Labeque, Chailly, Maazel, Cleveland Orchestra [7-CD Collector's Edition]
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 001546202 Release Date: 04/19/2011   Number of Discs: 7
    Composer:  George Gershwin,  Robert Russell Bennett
    Performer:  Katia Labèque,  Marielle Labèque,  Ralph Votapek,  Peter Jablonski  ... 
    Conductor:  Riccardo Chailly,  Arthur Fiedler,  Vladimir Ashkenazy,  John Mauceri  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cleveland Orchestra,  Boston Pops,  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra  ... 
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  • 9.
    Strauss Collection - Early Recordings On 78s (1901-1951)
    Strauss Collection - Early Recordings On 78s (1901-1951)
    Label: Opus Kura   Catalog: 1006/13 Release Date: 04/12/2011   Number of Discs: 8
    Composer:  Johann Strauss Jr.,  Spoken Word,  Josef Strauss,  Sr. Johann Strauss I
    Performer:  Irene Eisinger,  Dajos Bela,  Barnabas Von Geczy,  Marcella Sembrich  ... 
    Conductor:  Clemens Krauss,  Howard Barlow,  Erich Leinsdorf,  Harry Horlick  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kölner Klavier-Trio
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  • 10.
    The Cole Porter Songbook
    The Cole Porter Songbook
    Label: Rca   Catalog: 58413 Release Date: 03/11/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Cole Porter
    Performer:  Anne Jeffreys,  Howard Keel,  Gogi Grant,  Lena Horne  ... 
    Conductor:  Henri René,  William Hill-Bowen,  Lennie Hayton,  Hugo Winterhalter  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Orchestra,  William Hill-Bowen Orchestra,  Hugo Winterhalter Orchestra  ... 
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  • 11.
    Bluebird - The Sampler
    Bluebird - The Sampler
    Label: Rca   Catalog: 6389 Release Date: 01/28/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Various,  David Raksin
    Performer:  Charles Mingus,  J.J. Johnson,  Edward "Duke" Ellington,  Art Blakey  ... 
    Conductor:  Arthur Fiedler
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Pops
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  • 12.
    Arthur Fiedler's Sinfonietta
    Arthur Fiedler's Sinfonietta
    Label: Rca Victor Gold Seal   Catalog: 62571 Release Date: 12/17/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  John Stanley,  George Frideric Handel,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Paul Hindemith  ... 
    Performer:  E. Power Biggs,  Paul Hindemith
    Conductor:  Arthur Fiedler
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Arthur Fiedler Sinfonietta
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  • 13.
    Stan Getz & Arthur Fiedler At Tanglewood
    Stan Getz & Arthur Fiedler At Tanglewood
    Label: Rca   Catalog: 68703 Release Date: 12/17/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Antonio Carlos Jobim,  Eddie Sauter,  David Raksin,  Alec Wilder
    Performer:  Stan Getz
    Conductor:  Arthur Fiedler
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Pops
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  • 14.
    Heart & Soul - Celebrating The Unforgettable Songs Of Frank Loesser
    Heart & Soul - Celebrating The Unforgettable Songs Of Frank Loesser
    Label: Rca   Catalog: 70641 Release Date: 06/29/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Frank Loesser,  James Francis McHugh,  Hoagy Carmichael,  Jule Styne
    Performer:  Michele Lee,  Vic Damone,  Johnny Mathis,  Doris Day  ... 
    Conductor:  Arthur Fiedler,  Don Costa,  Frank De Vol,  Ray Ellis  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Pops,  Frank De Vol Orchestra,  Ray Ellis Orchestra  ... 
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  • 15.
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: Highly Strung
    The Golden Age Of Light Music: Highly Strung
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 5166 Release Date: 06/08/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jack Mason,  Steve Race,  George French,  Carlos Rocha  ... 
    Performer:  Johnny Dankworth
    Conductor:  Arthur Fiedler,  Eric Cook,  Eric Jupp,  Philippe Pages  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Knightsbridge Strings,  Music of the Mountains
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  • 16.
    The Voices Of Living Stereo Vol 2 / Lanza, Price, Et Al
    The Voices Of Living Stereo Vol 2 / Lanza, Price, Et Al
    Label: Rca Victor Living Stereo   Catalog: 68167 Release Date: 03/11/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Edvard Grieg,  Franz Schubert,  Gustav Mahler,  Hector Berlioz  ... 
    Performer:  Eileen Farrell,  Franz Rupp,  Marian Anderson,  Richard Lewis  ... 
    Conductor:  Arthur Fiedler,  Robert Russell Bennett,  Fritz Reiner,  Charles Munch  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Pops,  Orchestra,  Chicago Symphony Orchestra  ... 
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  • 17.
    Bolero - Images Of Spain / Semkow, Fiedler, Maazel, Ozawa
    Bolero - Images Of Spain / Semkow, Fiedler, Maazel, Ozawa
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 413250 Release Date: 01/12/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Maurice Ravel,  Emmanuel Chabrier,  Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov,  Manuel de Falla
    Conductor:  Arthur Fiedler,  Jerzy Semkow,  Lorin Maazel,  Seiji Ozawa
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Pops,  Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra,  Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra  ... 
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  • 18.
    The Joy Of Christmas - Original Album Classics
    The Joy Of Christmas - Original Album Classics
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 756173 Release Date: 11/10/2009   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Franz Schubert,  Traditional,  Franz Xaver Gruber  ... 
    Performer:  Frank Monachino,  Davis Aiken,  Chet Allen,  Rosemary Kuhlmann  ... 
    Conductor:  Eugene Ormandy,  Thomas Schippers,  Arthur Fiedler,  Jerold Ottley
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Temple University Concert Choir,  Philadelphia Orchestra,  NBC Symphony Orchestra  ... 
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  • 19.
    Christmas With Mozart
    Christmas With Mozart
    Label: Rca Victor Gold Seal   Catalog: 60121 Release Date: 11/01/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Leopold Mozart
    Performer:  Carl Weinrich,  Alfred Steinauer,  Max Lesueur,  Dieter Dyk  ... 
    Conductor:  Arthur Fiedler,  Rudolf Baumgartner,  Hans-Ludwig Hirsch,  Erich Leinsdorf  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bavarian State Orchestra Chamber Ensemble,  Boston Symphony Chamber Players
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  • 20.
    Mozart Greatest Hits
    Mozart Greatest Hits
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 742565 Release Date: 03/24/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  Alicia De Larrocha,  Philippe Entremont,  Shlomo Mintz
    Conductor:  George Szell,  Sir Colin Davis,  James Levine,  Erich Leinsdorf  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cleveland Orchestra,  Chicago Symphony Orchestra,  Canadian Brass  ... 
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  • 21.
    Pops Concert / Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops
    Pops Concert / Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops
    Label: Rca Victor Red Seal   Catalog: 6213 Release Date: 12/16/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Sir Edward Elgar,  Ambroise Thomas,  George Frideric Handel,  Richard Wagner  ... 
    Performer:  Alfred Krips
    Conductor:  Arthur Fiedler
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Pops
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  • 22.
    Robert Merrill & Jussi Bjorling - Arias & Duets
    Robert Merrill & Jussi Bjorling - Arias & Duets
    Label: Nimbus   Catalog: 7945 Release Date: 11/11/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Charles Gounod,  Georges Bizet,  Giacomo Meyerbeer,  Giuseppe Verdi  ... 
    Performer:  Jussi Björling,  Robert Merrill
    Conductor:  Renato Cellini,  Nils Grevillius,  Arthur Fiedler
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  RCA Victor Orchestra,  Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
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  • 23.
    Wellness Classics
    Wellness Classics
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 735213 Release Date: 10/28/2008   Number of Discs: 10
    Composer:  Antonio Vivaldi,  Robert Schumann,  Gustav Mahler,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart  ... 
    Performer:  Julian Bream,  Andreas Bach,  Andreas Haefliger,  Philippe Entremont  ... 
    Conductor:  John Eliot Gardiner,  Leonard Bernstein,  George Szell,  Eugene Ormandy  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Benny Goodman Quartet,  Miles Davis Quartet,  Duke Ellington Orchestra  ... 
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  • 24.
    Puccini 150: Musik Fur Die Ewigkeit
    Puccini 150: Musik Fur Die Ewigkeit
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 736303 Release Date: 10/21/2008   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Giacomo Puccini
    Performer:  Peter Dvorsky,  Marco Berti,  Nina Rautio,  Renata Scotto  ... 
    Conductor:  Lorin Maazel,  Gianandrea Gavazzeni,  Carlo Rizzi,  Arthur Fiedler  ... 
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  • 25.
    Fiedler Encores / Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops
    Fiedler Encores / Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 448952 Release Date: 09/30/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jean Sibelius,  Edvard Grieg,  Antonín Dvorák,  Bedrich Smetana  ... 
    Conductor:  Arthur Fiedler
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Pops
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