Theodore Thomas, the Chicago Orchestra‘s first music director, died on January 4, 1905. For many years after, the Orchestra would dedicate the first concerts of the new year to his memory, frequently performing works closely associated with their founder. We continue that tradition on this week’s radio broadcast, as Frank Villella, director of the CSO’s Rosenthal Archives, co-hosts a retrospective of works that Thomas introduced to audiences in the United States, both with the Chicago Orchestra and other ensembles.

Brahms Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80 (Daniel Barenboim, conductor)
Recorded by Erato in Orchestra Hall, September 1993

Wagner Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde (Artur Rodzinski, conductor)
Recorded by RCA in Orchestra Hall, December 1947

Elgar Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 (Enigma) (Sir Georg Solti, conductor)
Recorded by London in Medinah Temple, May 1974

Strauss Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40 (Fritz Reiner, conductor)
Recorded by RCA in Orchestra Hall, March 1954

Tchaikovsky Final Waltz and Apotheosis from The Nutcracker, Op. 71 (Morton Gould, conductor)
Recorded by RCA in Orchestra Hall, January 1966

Read more: Remembering Theodore Thomas

In May 2016, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra celebrated 100 years of recording.