Four years after the founding of the Boston Symphony Orchestra by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881, the Boston Pops Orchestra was assembled to provide "concerts of a lighter kind of music" after it had been a voiced wish by the founder. They performed their Promenade Concerts until 1900 where their repertoire would include light classical music and current theatre hits. Their first conductor was Arthur Fiedler in 1930 and he remained with them for 50 years. It was through his conductorship they saw international acclaim and he was always trying to change the attitude that classical music was just for the upper-class audience as well as insisting on playing popular music. They began free concerts on the Esplanade in Boston and these still continue today in the form of their Fourth of July Pops concert and fireworks display. They also performed a weekly series of televised broadcasts called Evening at Pops from the Symphony Hall where they performed during the season. After Arthur Fiedler's death in 1979 he was succeeded by the composer John Williams who continued in the traditions that had already been set. Keith Lockhart became principal conductor in 1995 and continues in that position. The orchestra is said to have made more recordings than any other in the world with sales exceeding 50 million in every recording format. Their most famous recording is thought to be Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride".

Adolphe Charles Adam Recordings

O Holy Night

Sony Classical SK 48232 (CD - Joy to the World)

Conductor - John Williams

Richard Adler Recordings

Hernando's Hideaway

RCA 68793 (CD: Boston Tea Party)

Conductor - Arthur Fiedler

Lynn Ahrens/Stephen Flaherty Recordings

With Voices Raised

Conductor - Keith Lockhart

Tenor - Jason Danieley

RCA 63516 (CD: A Splash of Pops)

Leroy Anderson recordings

A Christmas Festival

DG 419 414-2 (CD: White Christmas)

Conductor - Arthur Fiedler

RCA 09026-61685-2 (CD: Pops Christmas Party)

Conductor - Arthur Fiedler

Philips 416 287 - 2 (CD: We Wish You a Merry Christmas)

Conductor - John Williams

Choir - Tanglewood Festival Chorus

Choirmaster - John Oliver

Sony SK 48232 (CD: Joy to the World)

Conductor - John Williams

Choir - Tanglewood Festival Chorus

Choirmaster - John Oliver

Irish Suite

RCA 60746-2-RG (CD: Irish Night at the Pops)

Conductor - Arthur Fiedler

Sleigh Ride

Sony Classical SK 48232 (CD: Joy to the World)

Conductor - John Williams

Deutsche Grammophon DG 419 414 (CD: White Christmas)

Conductor - Arthur Fiedler

RCA 6428 (CD: A Christmas Festival with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops)

Conductor - Arthur Fiedler

RCA 61685 (CD: Pops Christmas Party)

Conductor - Arthur Fiedler

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