“The Berlin Philharmonic has long been associated with some of the most prestigious labels in what was once called the record industry,” writes Michael Cooper in Thursday’s (4/24) New York Times. “Now the Berlin Philharmonic has decided to go it alone, joining the growing ranks of orchestras with their own labels. It announced Thursday that its start-up, Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings, would issue its first audio release on May 23: a boxed set of Simon Rattle leading the orchestra in Schumann’s symphonies. ‘The major labels seem to be changing form, shape and even names on a weekly basis,’ Mr. Rattle, the orchestra’s chief conductor, said…. ‘The model is changing. And what is it going to be? Surely it is going to be, as it is in other parts of music, people making their own stuff and simply putting it out there.’ The Schumann set, which will be sold online and at selected retailers, will include two CDs and a high-resolution video and audio Blu-ray Disc.… The orchestra has already started its own subscription-based video service, Digital Concert Hall, and has released some videos on its own in the past. And it will continue to make recordings for the major labels, especially with prominent soloists.”
Posted April 25, 2014
