THE SEATTLE SYMPHONY AND LUDOVIC MORLOT ANNOUNCE LAUNCH OF RECORD LABEL: SEATTLE SYMPHONY MEDIA
First Three Recordings to Be Released in April
Worldwide Digital Release on April 1 and Physical CD Release on April 29
The Seattle Symphony and Music Director Ludovic Morlot announce the launch of Seattle Symphony Media, the Symphony’s in-house record label, with its first three recordings scheduled for release in April.
The first three releases on the new label feature Ludovic Morlot conducting the Seattle Symphony in works by French and American composers, celebrating the flourishing relationship between the French conductor and American orchestra that has electrified audiences in Seattle. The discs include works by Charles Ives, Elliott Carter, George Gershwin, Henri Dutilleux, Maurice Ravel and Camille Saint-Saëns.
The Seattle Symphony has an extensive catalogue of over 140 recordings, which have brought forth 12 Grammy Award nominations throughout its history. Under the leadership of Ludovic Morlot, now in his third season as Music Director, and Executive Director Simon Woods, the Symphony plans to build a new discography to include both live and in-studio recordings spanning genres and time periods, and including both “core repertoire” and some of the eclectic and contemporary programming the Seattle Symphony has become recognized for at home.
The launch of the label has been made possible through an innovative media agreement with the Seattle Symphony’s musicians, agreed upon as part of a new contract ratified in 2013. Under the agreement, the organization -– unusual among American orchestras –- is able to release a significant number of recordings each year from both live concerts and “studio” sessions, which will allow the building of a significant catalogue over a relatively short period of time. The Symphony’s musicians will share in the label’s net revenue, and will have a voice in planning and contractual matters. All recordings are made in the acoustically superb Benaroya Hall using the Symphony’s own state-of-the art in-house recording facility, supervised by audio engineer Dmitriy Lipay.
An important characteristic of the label is the combination of live and studio recordings, allowing the organization an unprecedented breadth of repertoire choices that are less easily achieved with an “all-live” label. Recordings, which are being distributed by Naxos of America, will be available in both physical and digital formats from a variety of retailers.
The recordings have been engineered to audiophile standards and aim to capture as realistically as possible the sound of the orchestra performing on the Benaroya Hall stage, with naturalistic imaging, depth of field and dynamic range. Digital content will be available in four formats: regular stereo, “Mastered for iTunes,” 96k 24-bit high resolution, and 5.1 surround sound. See below for a list of online outlets.
Executive Director Simon Woods, who holds nearly a decade of experience in the recording industry, explains, “Over the past three years, this orchestra has developed a highly sophisticated sound under Ludovic Morlot’s leadership, producing night after night of inspired music making. Our new label will not only introduce this partnership to a global audience, but also reflect the creative and imaginative programming that we have become known for at home.”
The first three discs on the Seattle Symphony Media label will be available on March 19 for pre-order on Amazon.com and iTunes. The download on-sale date is April 1, and the physical street date is April 29. Additional online retailers will include Google Play, HDtracks and eClassical.
The Seattle Symphony is grateful to Joan Watjen for her generosity in underwriting the launch and initial recordings of Seattle Symphony Media in honor of her late husband, Craig, who was a member of the Seattle Symphony’s Board of Directors. The couple supported the construction and installation of the Watjen Concert Organ, which is featured in the new recording of the Saint-Saëns “Organ” Symphony.