Cincinnati Symphony's New Record Label Aligns with Naxos

In a move that will begin to restore luster to the Cincinnati Symphony -- one of the last orchestras in the U.S. to have a recording contract until Telarc ceased production last spring -- the CSO has created its own in-house label, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Media.

Naxos of America will distribute and manufacture recordings on the new label, the orchestra announced Monday.  The inaugural release, "American Portraits," will be available at CSO concerts and the CSO box office at Music Hall beginning Nov. 12.  It will be released throughout North America and be available as a digital download Jan. 25.  "American Portraits" is a compilation of live recordings of American music performed by the CSO under music director Paavo Järvi.

Said Jarvi:  “It is absolutely important to document the musical heritage and musical life of an orchestra.  In this particular city, it is also quite symbolic.”  The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the fifth oldest orchestra in the U.S, was one of the first American orchestras to record.