A broad-reaching partnership between the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and London Symphony Orchestra signed in London in 2022, has resulted in the launch of a new in-house record label for the MSO that will expand the Orchestra’s international reach into more than 200 countries.
The MSO has a rich history of performances that have been recorded and distributed under labels such as Decca, ABC, Sony and Chandos, among others. Successful releases have included the platinum selling recording of Elton John Live in Australia with the MSO (1987), Flight Facilities’ ARIA award winning collaboration with the MSO (2016), Christian Li’s ARIA nominated Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (2021) and the 2022 ARIA winner for Best Classical Album, Carl Vine’s The Enchanted Loom.
Under the musical direction and baton of Chief Conductor Jaime Martín the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra label will build on this legacy with internally curated recordings being produced for distribution through the LSO Live group.
The label will showcase the distinct talents of Australian musicians, artists and composers including the growing influence of First Nations musicians who continue to break new ground with the MSO.
MSO Managing Director Sophie Galaise says the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra label offers extraordinary opportunities to meet the organisation’s ambition to share its music with the widest possible audience.
“LSO Live is a global industry leader and for more than two decades has been instrumental in revitalising the market for classical music internationally. The launch of the MSO label, in partnership with LSO Live, is a pivotal moment in our evolution and heralds a vibrant and exciting new era of sharing our own performances,” says Galaise.
During a signing ceremony ahead of the LSO performances in Melbourne, LSO Managing Director Kathryn McDowell CBE DL, formalised the partnership with MSO Managing Director Sophie Galaise.
McDowell welcomed the MSO to the LSO Live group. “In 1999 the LSO was the first orchestra to launch its own label, with the aim of using the latest technology to amplify our artistic policy and reach the widest possible audience. Now, as we look to celebrate 25 years of LSO Live, we are delighted to partner with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to help realise their own ambitions and produce recordings that capture the performances they bring to the stage,” McDowell said.
“It is a privilege to be collaborating with LSO Live on the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s new recording initiative,” says Galaise. “They are the right partners to help us share Jaime’s electrifying performances with the MSO broadly and build on the MSO’s recording legacy. We look forward to working with the talented and experienced team at LSO Live to launch the first recording next year.”
The MSO is only the sixth partner to join the LSO Live group of labels, which provides reach in key markets including USA, UK, Japan, France, Benelux, Germany, Scandinavia and Spain, and digital distribution through the likes of Amazon, Apple, Spotify and Presto Music. Current LSO Live partners are King’s College, Cambridge; percussionist Colin Currie; National Symphony Orchestra, Washington DC; and the Cleveland Orchestra.