Four symphonic poems from Saint-Saëns, performed by Dimitri Mitropoulos and the New York Philharmonic. A surprisingly well made recording for the time: 1956. Mitropoulos was born in Athens, Greece in 1896, with music in his blood. As a kid he already hosted musical gatherings.
He got his musical education in Athens, Brussels and Berlin. From the twenties onwards he quickly made a career. In 1937 he moved to the US, and replaced Stokowski as musical director of the New York Philharmonic. In that capacity he has widened the repertoire of the orchestra, commissioning new works, but also re-interpreting the classics.
Mitropoulos was known for his eidetic memory. He was able to conduct without a score. There is also a bad rumour about his affections for the young Leonard Bernstein. One should never listen to these things (but I mention it just the same).