Michael Stern & Kansas City Symphony Brahms Reimagined Orchestrations HDCD

Brilliant Performances, Dazzling Sound!
A "Prof." Johnson 24-Bit HDCD Recording!
Three compositions by Johannes Brahms in an outstanding interpretation by Michael Stern with the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra are included in this release. The recording took place live at the impressive and acoustically acclaimed Helzberg Hall in Kansas City, part of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. And the production team is also of rank and name and awarded Grammys: producer Peter Rutenberg and sound engineers 'Prof' Keith O. Johnson and Sean Royce Martin.
Michael Stern's celebrated 19-year tenure as Music Director of the Kansas City Symphony is characterized by the orchestra's remarkable artistic rise, organizational development and stability, and the extraordinary growth of its diverse audience. Stern and the orchestra have teamed up with Reference Recordings to make a series of highly acclaimed recordings. "Brahms: Reimagined Orchestrations" is the tenth to be released.
Reference Recordings® proudly presents an imaginative album of three compositions by Johannes Brahms, in an outstanding interpretation from Michael Stern and the Kansas City Symphony. It features the first recording of American composer and Kansas City native Virgil Thomson's 1957/8 orchestration of Brahms: Eleven Chorale Preludes for organ, Op.122. It also contains the enchanting Black Swan, composer Bright Sheng's orchestration of the Brahms Intermezzo for solo piano, Op.118, No.2, and the beloved and spectacular Arnold Schoenberg orchestration of the Piano Quartet No.1 in G Minor, Op.25. Notes writer Ken Meltzer states: "Schoenberg's orchestration is a respectful and affectionate tribute by one great composer to another. It is also a beautiful and at times thrillingly entertaining piece. And to the extent it presents both composers at their least inhibited, the Brahms/Schoenberg Piano Quartet offers a valuable insight into the personalities of two of concert music's most influential figures."
The album was recorded live in the stunning and acoustically acclaimed Helzberg Hall, part of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The album was produced by Peter Rutenberg, who has over half a century of experience in the music industry as a producer, composer, director, and teacher. Rutenberg was recognized by The Recording Academy in two Grammy® categories: as nominee for Classical Producer of the Year in 2011 and winner of Best Small Ensemble Performance of 2006 as a conductor. This album was engineered by RR's esteemed technical team, composed of Grammy®-winning engineer 'Prof' Keith O. Johnson and multi­-Grammy®-­nominated engineer Sean Royce Martin.
Michael Stern's celebrated 19-year tenure as music director of the Kansas City Symphony is notable for the orchestra's remarkable artistic ascent, organizational development, and stability, and the extraordinary growth of its varied audiences. Stern and the orchestra have partnered with Reference Recordings for an ongoing series of highly praised recordings. Brahms: Reimagined Orchestrations is the tenth to be released.

Features:

• HDCD/24-bit
• Recording Engineer: Keith O. Johnson
• Mastering Engineer: Sean Royce Martin
• Made in the U.S.A.

Musicians:

• Michael Stern, conductor
• Kansas City Symphony

Selections:

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Eleven Chorale Preludes For Organ, Op.122
Orchestrated by Virgil Thomson (1896-1989)
1. No.1 My Jesus Calls to Me
2. No.2 O Blessed Jesus (two versions)
3. No.3 O World, I Now Must Leave Thee
4. No.4 My Faithful Heart Rejoices
5. No.5 Deck Thyself, My Soul
6. No.6 Blessed Are Ye Faithful Souls
7. No.7 O God, Thou Faithful God
8. No.8 Behold, a Rose is Blooming
9. No.9 My Heart is Filled with Longing
10. No.10 My Heart is Filled with Longing (second setting)
11. No.11 O World, I Now Must Leave Thee (second setting)
Orchestrated by Bright Sheng (1955-)
12. Black Swan For Orchestra (After Intermezzo in A Major, Op.118 No.2, by Brahms)
Piano Quartet No.1 in G Minor, Op.25
Orchestrated By Arnold Schönberg (1874-1951)
13 I. Allegro
14 II. Intermezzo
15 III. Andante con moto
16 IV. Rondo alla zingarese