Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Founded as a modest youth orchestra in 1945, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra developed in four decades into one of the most polished of America's regional orchestras. Its recordings for Telarc early in the digital era made it the darling of audiophiles and by the end of the 20th century, its excellent principal players and ensemble sound could compare to the best in North America. Similarly, the Atlanta Symphony Chorus is ranked among the best choirs attached to American orchestras, comparable to those of the Chicago and San Francisco symphonies. Henry Sopkin founded what was initially the Atlanta Youth Symphony at the end of World War II, and spent the next two decades patiently developing it into a professional orchestra. In 1966, the baton passed to Robert Shaw, until then primarily known as a choral conductor. Shaw further professionalized the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and established what is now its 200-member chorus in 1970. Within two years of Shaw's arrival, the orchestra musicians became full-time players (although the chorus would always remain volunteer) and, at Shaw's instigation, the group moved into a new concert hall. In 1978, Robert Woods, president of the new, little audiophile label Telarc and a longtime Shaw fan, established a long-term relationship with the Atlanta Symphony. Although the orchestra's first Telarc releases were strictly orchestral, the chorus was soon brought on board and Shaw and Telarc would eventually record nearly every work for chorus and orchestra in the standard repertory. Shaw retired after 21 years, though remaining on as music director emeritus and conductor laureate until his death in 1999. Yoel Levi took over the orchestra in 1988, further refining the orchestra and proving its ability in repertory without chorus. Under Shaw and Levi, the orchestra won 18 Grammys; this annual success stirred a minor controversy in the late '80s. Prominent individuals in the Grammy nomination process were based in Atlanta and although nobody was accused of malfeasance, critics did suggest that civic boosterism and sheer habit had as much to do with the classical Grammys as artistic merit. Levi left the 95-member orchestra in 2000 and was replaced by the well-regarded Robert Spano the following year. Harking back to its origins, the Atlanta Symphony still supports a youth orchestra. It also presents an ambitious package of concerts and other annual events in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., and maintains outreach programs for Atlanta's African-American community.
© TiVo
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Poulenc: Gloria, FP 177 & Organ Concerto, FP 93 - Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms
Robert Shaw, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Classical - Released by Telarc on 24/08/2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Walton: Belshazzar's Feast - Bernstein: Chichester Psalms & Missa brevis
Robert Shaw, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Classical - Released by Telarc on 1/11/1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Great Choral Classics
Robert Shaw, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus
Classical - Released by Telarc on 22/05/2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Christmas Concert with Robert Shaw (Remastered 2023)
Louise Seidel, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Robert Shaw
Classical - Released by Vox on 1/01/1976
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
The Many Moods Of Christmas (Medley)
Robert Shaw, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Christmas Music - Released by Telarc on 1/01/1962
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Verdi: Quattro pezzi sacri - Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Robert Shaw
Classical - Released by Telarc on 1/05/1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Christmas with Robert Shaw
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Robert Shaw
Christmas Music - Released by Allegretto on 1/01/1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms - Poulenc: Gloria, FP 177
Robert Shaw, Sylvia McNair, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Classical - Released by Telarc on 26/02/1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Mass in C Major, Op. 86; Elegiac Song, Op. 118 & Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, Op. 112
Robert Shaw, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Classical - Released by Telarc on 10/10/1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Janáček: Glagolitic Mass, JW 3/9 & Dvořák: Te Deum, Op. 103, B. 176
Robert Shaw, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Classical - Released by Telarc on 1/03/1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major "Symphony of a Thousand"
Robert Shaw, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Classical - Released by Telarc on 1/10/1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Hindemith: When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd
Robert Shaw, William Stone, Jan De Gaetani, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Classical - Released by Telarc on 1/03/1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Szymanowski & Poulenc: Stabat Maters
Robert Shaw, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Classical - Released by Telarc on 1/10/1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A cappella
Robert Shaw, Robert Shaw Festival Singers, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Classical - Released by Telarc on 26/07/2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rachmaninoff: The Bells, Op. 35 - Adams: Harmonium
Robert Shaw, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Classical - Released by Telarc on 1/10/1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sibelius: Kullervo, Op. 7
Robert Spano, Charlotte Hellekant, Nathan Gunn, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Classical - Released by Telarc on 21/11/2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Berlioz: Requiem, Op. 5, H 75
Robert Spano, Frank Lopardo, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Classical - Released by Telarc on 24/08/2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo