New Seattle Symphony record label

[Brian]

Ludovic Morlot and the Seattle Symphony are teaming up for a new in-house record label, Chicago/London-style. They'll be using the same engineer who made their recent slew of Naxos CDs, and the CDs will be distributed by Naxos, along with lossless digital availability through eClassical and the rest of the usual suspects.

First three albums:
- all-Dutilleux (including the cello concerto)
- Ravel pieces and the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony
- Ives' Symphony No. 2, Gershwin's American in Paris, and a live recording of the world premiere of Elliott Carter's last orchestral work (and penultimate work overall)

There will ultimately be three Dutilleux CDs, and a continued focus on Ives and Ravel, emphasizing the American orchestra and French conductor.

Full press release with tons of details:
http://www.classicstoday.com/seattle-symphony-launches-new-record-label-seattle-symphony-media/

[Ken B]

Ludovic Morlot and the Seattle Symphony are teaming up for a new in-house record label, Chicago/London-style. They'll be using the same engineer who made their recent slew of Naxos CDs, and the CDs will be distributed by Naxos, along with lossless digital availability through eClassical and the rest of the usual suspects.

First three albums:
- all-Dutilleux (including the cello concerto)
- Ravel pieces and the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony
- Ives' Symphony No. 2, Gershwin's American in Paris, and a live recording of the world premiere of Elliott Carter's last orchestral work (and penultimate work overall)

There will ultimately be three Dutilleux CDs, and a continued focus on Ives and Ravel, emphasizing the American orchestra and French conductor.

Full press release with tons of details:
http://www.classicstoday.com/seattle-symphony-launches-new-record-label-seattle-symphony-media/

You know, that sounds it might be disappointing. Traditionally there have only been a few really adventurous US orchestras, and Seattle was one. That line up is flavor of the month and war horses, aside from the one Carter piece in several projected CDs. How about that Mennin cello concerto we discussed here as an example?

[Brian]

A future release will be all pieces the Seattle Symphony commissioned.

[Mirror Image]

Orchestras releasing their own performances through their own label is a great idea, especially since the range of repertoire doesn't have to go through some 'board of executives' just to get released. They can release obscure music and, of course, more mainstream music. Like any label, their goal will be to make money, because without money how could they stay afloat? So I'm sure we'll see some Beethoven or Mozart from them. Not that this would a bad thing, but these composers sell. A composer like Dutilleux, whom I admire and love, would be a much harder sell. Will be interested to see how the label develops in these first stages.

[some guy]

Wait a minute. First the orchestras have to play the obscure music....

[North Star]

Looks very nice!

The next release, scheduled for June 2014, will be an all-Fauré disc, including Masques et bergamasques, Pelléas et Mélisande, Dolly, Pavane and works for solo instrument with orchestra. Future plans include two recordings completing the Dutilleux orchestra cycle, further orchestral works of Ives, and music by Stravinsky, Varése, and Ravel as well as recent commissions by the Seattle Symphony.

...That line up is flavor of the month...

Oh please.

[DavidW]

So for us the purchaser it will look the same then?  Right now they distribute through Naxos and after they still distribute through Naxos.  What changes for us?

[Ken B]

Oh please.

Thank you, but Dutilleux emphatically IS the current flavour of the month. Just look at how much there is in recent releases and boxes.

[North Star]

Thank you, but Dutilleux emphatically IS the current flavour of the month. Just look at how much there is in recent releases and boxes.

That doesn't mean that his music won't be recorded as much later. (or that it hasn't been recorded earlier, as most of the recent releases, apart from the Salonen/Hannigan/Karttunen disc, are just old recordings in new boxes).

[Brian]

So for us the purchaser it will look the same then?  Right now they distribute through Naxos and after they still distribute through Naxos.  What changes for us?

It doesn't say Naxos on the front, but also, they don't need Naxos' permission to record music. (Naxos has a big say in what artists record, except for very famous artists they poach for marketing reasons.)

[Ken B]

It doesn't say Naxos on the front, but also, they don't need Naxos' permission to record music. (Naxos has a big say in what artists record, except for very famous artists they poach for marketing reasons.)

Part of their success, control of the repertoire. A good thing overall. It's why we have the American Classics for example, rather than 87 Naxos versions of Bolero. Policy that goes back to the Marco Polo days.

[DavidW]

It doesn't say Naxos on the front, but also, they don't need Naxos' permission to record music. (Naxos has a big say in what artists record, except for very famous artists they poach for marketing reasons.)

Naxos has proven themselves to be one of the most ambitious labels out there for going beyond the warhorse.  Seattle can't feel that restricted under Naxos, unless they wanted to tackle things that Naxos already decided is the purview of another orchestra.  Thanks for answering my question. 

Is Schwarz still the conductor?

[bhodges]

This is exciting news, and I mostly like the contents of the first 3 releases. Ludovic Morlot seems to be a terrific fit with that orchestra, and this new recording label is even more evidence. Glad to see another orchestra devising a way to make recordings - i.e., by doing it themselves, like Chicago and London.

--Bruce

[Brian]

Naxos has proven themselves to be one of the most ambitious labels out there for going beyond the warhorse.  Seattle can't feel that restricted under Naxos, unless they wanted to tackle things that Naxos already decided is the purview of another orchestra.  Thanks for answering my question. 

Is Schwarz still the conductor?

Yeah - Ives is an example, Naxos has that Ives expert (Sinclair?) doing a series already. Ludovic Morlot is the replacement for Gerard Schwarz, who exited after 26 years and considerable controversy:

At least 15 current or former members of the Seattle Symphony have signed sworn declarations on behalf of that member, Peter Kaman, many of them creating an image of Mr. Schwarz as a vindictive, harsh taskmaster who has undermined morale. Even given the strong feelings players in many orchestras have historically had about their conductors, the degree of public criticism is stunning.

"It's a bully atmosphere," John Weller, the acting associate concertmaster, said in an interview echoing his declaration. "We're sitting there with a sledgehammer over our heads. There's no music or inspiration coming from him to nurture us or show us the way. He's left doing damage control: 'You're playing too loud, too soft.' It's what's not there that we find appalling."

[DavidW]

I didn't know about that, thanks for sharing Brian.

[TheGSMoeller]

This is exciting news, and I mostly like the contents of the first 3 releases. Ludovic Morlot seems to be a terrific fit with that orchestra, and this new recording label is even more evidence. Glad to see another orchestra devising a way to make recordings - i.e., by doing it themselves, like Chicago and London.

--Bruce

Atlanta Symphony has its ASO Media Label which has done a good job of mixing in contemporary composers (Theofanidis and Higdon) with the likes of Rachmaninov and Sibelius. They recorded the all RVW concert I just attended last month.

[TheGSMoeller]

I didn't know about that, thanks for sharing Brian.

The article is accurate, I've been hearing for years how bad it was in Seattle, mainly because of Schwarz.

[Brian]

Also worth pointing out that, despite the overall excellence of the Seattle/Schwarz Naxos CDs over the last 10 years (and how much of that excellence is attributable to Schwarz? An interesting question), he has yet to find a new job as a music director with another orchestra.

[TheGSMoeller]

Also worth pointing out that, despite the overall excellence of the Seattle/Schwarz Naxos CDs over the last 10 years (and how much of that excellence is attributable to Schwarz? An interesting question), he has yet to find a new job as a music director with another orchestra.

That combo had some good years with Delos too.

[Ken B]

Also worth pointing out that, despite the overall excellence of the Seattle/Schwarz Naxos CDs over the last 10 years (and how much of that excellence is attributable to Schwarz? An interesting question), he has yet to find a new job as a music director with another orchestra.

My guess is a lot. I bet 99% of any commitment to good but obscure repertoire comes from the music director, or commissioning record company, not the symphony board or musicians' union.