France And The United States

For quite a long time, France and the United States have been allies and friends. Our way of thinking and of looking at the world is very similar despite some incidental differences.

The French Presence In New England

New England has one of the largest French-speaking populations in the United States. In Boston alone, the French cultural presence is well represented by many French orientedorganizations. Among them, The French Symphony is the only one dedicated to the French musical tradition and to the friendship between France and the United States.

Why Create The French Symphony?

Boston, city of culture and tradition, has always had a strong French cultural presence, and particularly in music. One should not forget that the Boston Symphony Orchestra had, from the early twentieth century until the sixties, a distinctive French sound due to the overwhelming presence of French musicians who were brought to Boston by Serge Koussevitsky (the fames Russian-French conductor). For a long time the BSO was one of the best French orchestras in the world. The best French conductors stepped on its podium, from Serge Koussevitsky to Pierre Monteux, and especially Charles Munch, who served as its Music Director for many years. With the retirement of many French musicians and the arrival of German music directors the orchestra progressively  lost its French essence as they wanted to give the orchestra a more German sound. Progressively, the French repertoire was abandoned and the famed  French sound of the BSO progressively disappeared.

Why Is The French Symphony So Different?

The orchestra is led by internationally renowned conductor Patrick Botti, famous for his engaging style, his charisma, and his true vision in innovative programming and concert presentation.

Patrick Botti studied with the best French teachers in the line of the great French musical tradition. He brings to the orchestra and its audiences that perspective and that knowledge.

When Maestro Botti arrived in Boston in 1982 as a Fulbright scholar, he was surprised to find that although the French tradition was still present in the playing style of many musicians, especially wind and brass players, there was no strong French Symphonic presence in Boston. With the help of prominent US and
French personalities of the world of arts, science and politics in Boston and New England, he created the Jamaica Plain Symphony - French Symphony of Boston in 1984. He chose some of the most talented New England musicians to join the orchestra, musicians who shared his vision and goals.

The inaugural concert took place in a historical Boston theater in 1985 before a packed audience. The immensely successful performance helped propel the orchestra to the forefront of the Boston musical scene.

The orchestra performs works representing the French traditional repertoire, not only including works by French composers but also works by famous American composers who studied in France, such as Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland.
Today, the fully professional orchestra is ranked as one of the top ensembles in New England.