 Pierre Benjamin Monteux ( pronounced : [ pjɛʁ mɔ ̃ .tø ] ; 4 April 1875 – 1 July 1964 ) was a French ( later American ) conductor . After violin and viola studies , and a decade as an orchestral player and occasional conductor , he began to receive regular conducting engagements in 1907 . He came to prominence when , for the first time , he led the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1919 . He was the conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1919 to 1924 , and from 1925 to 1936 . From 1936 to 