The Seattle Symphony is joining the ranks of other major orchestras across the country with the creation of an in-house production company called Seattle Symphony Media.
The venture launches with the release of three new recordings, one of which was made during a live performance.
Seattle Symphony executive director Simon Woods said it makes sense for the organization to release its own recordings. "We have a full studio in Benaroya Hall," Woods said, "as well as a fabulous sound engineer, Dmitri Lipay."
Symphony administrators have struck a deal with the musicians that gives the players a cut of any profits realized from record sales. Woods said that makes the musicians partners in Seattle Symphony Media.
For now, Seattle Symphony Media will be focused on audio recordings only. "We don't have plans for video yet," Woods said. "But we want to leave the door open."
The first three recordings include music by Charles Ives, Elliott Carter and George Gershwin, as well as one of Seattle Symphony music director Ludovic Morlot's favorites: French composer Henri Dutilleux.
They'll be released on CD and available for download.
