L.A. Philharmonic Releases Shostakovich Album Today, 6/19

The Los Angeles Philharmonic continues its collaboration with Deutsche Grammophon with the new release of two works by Shostakovich – the world premiere of the Prologue to Orango and Symphony No. 4.

Both works, led by LA Phil Conductor Laureate Esa-Pekka Salonen, were recorded live at Walt Disney Concert Hall in December of 2011. The 2-disc set will be available as of today, June 19, 2012. 

Orango, Shostakovich's unfinished satirical opera about a half-man, half-ape, was sketched in 1932. Little was known about beyond its title until 2004, when the 13-page score of the prologue was discovered at Moscow's Glinka Museum by Russian musicologist Olga Digonskaya. After the discovery of the music, Shostakovich's widow invited British composer Gerard McBurney to orchestrate the work, which he did drawing upon contemporary works by Shostakovich and Russian theater of the time. The Los Angeles Philharmonic, led by Salonen, and joined by the Los Angeles Master Chorale and soloists, gave the world premiere last year.

In addition to the Prologue to Orango, the 2CD set includes Shostakovich's Symphony No. 4, which was also written in the 1930s, but withheld by the composer until its first performance in Moscow in 1961.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under the vibrant leadership of Music Director Gustavo Dudamel, presents an inspiring array of music from all genres – orchestral, chamber and Baroque music, organ and celebrity recitals, new music, jazz, world music and pop – at two of L.A.'s iconic venues, Walt Disney Concert Hall (www.laphil.com) and the Hollywood Bowl (www.hollywoodbowl.com). The LA Phil's season at Walt Disney Concert Hall extends from October through May, and throughout the summer at the Hollywood Bowl. With the preeminent Los Angeles Philharmonic at the foundation of its offerings, the LA Phil aims to enrich and transform lives through music, with a robust mix of artistic, education and community programs.