Violinist Sarah Chang performing
Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons
EMI Classics
New York, NY—The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra is pleased to announce an October 2007 release of a new recording of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, with virtuoso violinist Sarah Chang, on EMI Classics. The disc marks Orpheus’ first CD release in more than six years, and is Ms. Chang’s first-ever recording of The Four Seasons.
This recording also marks the Orchestra’s first release on the EMI Classics label.
Orpheus and Ms. Chang collaborated during the 2006-2007 concert season, performing The Four Seasons to audiences domestically and throughout South Korea during a five-concert, critically-acclaimed concert tour. They will appear at Carnegie Hall in May 2008, performing The Four Seasons for New York audiences. Orpheus and Sarah Chang’s collaborative relationship dates back to 2004, when they performed Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G at Carnegie Hall.
Melissa Meell, a cellist with Orpheus said of the collaboration, “the length of time we (Orpheus and Sarah Chang) have had in getting to know one another, and the journey we have taken together as artists, both geographically and musically, has created a lot of trust and mutual respect that I think comes through in the music.” She continued: “I think the combination of Sarah Chang’s and Orpheus’ unique styles, of strength and consistency coupled with flexibility and imagination, allowed for a great deal of interplay between all of us. In May, we were able to ‘let it fly.’ in the recording session.”
Richard Rood, who performed as concertmaster during the recording sessions, said “Ms. Chang is amazing to work with. She has an extraordinary talent level, and was very welcoming of the orchestra as a musical collaborator. In The Four Seasons, our goal was to allow her to be free, spontaneous and creative in her interpretation, and we were amazed at how quickly she adapted to the collaborative process and assimilated musical ideas from all of us as well.”
The care and attention that these performers brought to the music was astonishing", said EMI producer Stephen Johns, "and their long experience of working as a chamber ensemble of equals meant that every player was alive to the re-creation and fresh viewpoint of these popular works. I know that Sarah relished recording with partners of such skill, and the interplay and inspiration between her and the orchestra was astonishing".
“Every member of Orpheus is a fantastic soloist, and I always look forward to performing with this group because it is such a natural collaboration,” Ms. Chang said. “Playing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons together is particularly rewarding, because it is a work that allows you to express such a variety of colors and characters,” she continued. “With Orpheus, because of the focus and thoughtfulness that goes into every rehearsal and performance, it truly is possible to convey fully the vivid and colorful images Vivaldi created with this piece.”
Hear Orpheus and Sarah Chang perform The Four Seasons live:
Thursday, May 8, 2008
New Brunswick , New Jersey
Friday, May 9, 2008
Englewood, New Jersey
Saturday, May 10 2008 CARNEGIE HALL - New York, NY
Watch the music video of "Summer"
Learn more about the album at:www.changvivaldi.com
Visit EMI Classics at http://www.emiclassics.com/
