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’s 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 recognised 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, organisational 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.

For nearly 50 years, Reference Recordings has been one of the most innovative and respected independent labels in the music business. Reference Recordings releases have been highly praised for their dedication to high quality sound in the service of great music. After more than 175 releases, RR is still recording what many consider to be the finest-sounding classical, jazz and blues discs in the world.