Celebrating its 80th anniversary season, the NSO here presents its first recording under its new music director. In the U.S., Christoph Eschenbach has previously held music directorships with Houston Symphony, Ravinia Festival, and The Philadelphia Orchestra.

This new release celebrates the memory of John F. Kennedy, and the 50th anniversary of his inauguration as U.S. President, by coupling new and historic recordings by the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, D.C.

CD 1 features Christoph Eschenbach conducting the January 2011 anniversary concert at the Kennedy Center. It includes the world premiere recording of Peter Lieberson’s Remembering JFK (An American Elegy), with famous actor Richard Dreyfuss narrating excerpts from speeches of President Kennedy. Also included are Bernstein’s popular Symphonic Dances from ‘West Side Story’.

CD 2 features excerpts from the previously unreleased 1961 Inaugural Concert under then-Music Director Howard Mitchell, including radio commentary from the original broadcast.