For me one of the major disadvantages of orchestral music on CD is that, in the majority of cases, the recordings were made in a lifeless studio.

Secondly and even more serious is that the wishes of the conductor were invariably overridden by a recording engineer. Sitting at his console, probably with a whisky in one hand and a cigarette in the other, he is highly skilled, but nevertheless he should not act as controller of the conductors wishes.

With the launch of Orchestral Concert CDs I intend to produce CDs that do no suffer from either of the aforementioned ills.

Firstly all CDs issued will be of live, concert recordings.
Secondly at no time during the recording session has the level of sound been adjusted by the resident engineer.

Now to the crown jewels; a series of recordings of live orchestral concerts by visiting orchestras from Eastern Europe.

CD1/2008 includes, what will almost certainly become an all time favourite, for its melodies and brilliant orchestration. Jan Novak was a Czech composer who lived from 1923 to 1984. He was prolific, composing for Concert, Film and Theatre. One of his finest pieces, the Philharmonic Dances, is performed on this CD by an orchestra that has adopted it as their most successful modern piece. The Brno Philharmonic Orchestra is one of only three world orchestras ever to be invited to the Vatican to play for the pope. Here they are conducted by their, longest serving, chief conductor, Jiri Waldhans. (The second movement forms the background to the index page of our Website).

The concert begins with a most dramatic and powerful rendering of the 9th Symphony of Antonin Dvorak. The attack of the timpani, a few bars in, immediately demonstrates the full dynamic range of a recording made without the interference of a recording engineer. It is like hearing the piece for the first time.

Out of deference to their host country the orchestra concludes this delightful concert with two works by Fredrick Delius, Irmelin, (a sample provides the background to one of the Webpages), and finally Koanga from La Calinda.

The concert was recorded in the Royal Festival Hall London.

CD2/2008 The Prague Symphony Orchestra concert opens with fireworks – the Overture Scapino by Sir William Walton. Next comes a surprise. Who would imagine Peter Katin playing the 3rd Piano Concert of Prokofiev? He does, and brilliantly too. The recent reissue of the complete Mozart sonatas reminds us of his constant virtuoso presence, I just wonder when he will be mentioned in the honours list.

Some modern compositions remind us of the fable of ‘The Kings New Clothes’, testing ones intelligence to the limit. The second half of the concert begins with a modern piece, once again by a Czech composer, Miloslav Kabelac, (1908 – 1979). Reflections Op 49 is a constructed piece of 9 short movements, which do contain harmony, counterpoint, melody and intelligence.
Up to this point the conductor has been Waclav Smetacek and the venue the Royal Festival Hall. Zdenek Kosler now takes the baton and directs the same orchestra in a truly Spanish Rhapsodie Espagnole. The concert closes with an encore, the 15th Slavonic Dance of Dvorak, from the Albert Hall Nottingham.

Full details of these first two CDs in the series of 30 concerts can be found on www.orchestralconcertcds.com

All CDs are medium priced, at £10

I wish you a new and most enjoyable experience.
Geoffrey.

This is spam but it sounds like a great project so thanks for posting it. Most CDs shamelessly break trade descriptions legislation -- they should be labeled:

Haven't various people tried to do this -- subvert Kevin's malign influence -- e.g. the pianist Bernard Roberts? That's not to pour cold water on your project: the more the merrier.