Esa-Pekka Salonen leads works by Beethoven and Lutoslawski

May 9, 2006 - Today, a new concert by the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen is available for download online exclusively at the iTunes Music Store. This concert, recorded just over a week ago at Walt Disney Concert Hall (April 28, 29 & 30) during the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Beethoven Unbound series, features Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 and Leonore Overture No. 2 paired with Lutoslawski's Symphony No. 4.

Beethoven Unbound, a multi-faceted exploration of the works of "the most radical composer of all time" as described by Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen, marks the first time in 40 years that the Philharmonic performs all nine symphonies within a single season. Salonen provides new perspectives on the complete cycle of Beethoven's symphonies, positioning them in several concerts with contemporary works he considers to be breaking creative boundaries.

This Los Angeles Philharmonic concert is the orchestra's third in a new Deutsche Grammophon and Decca initiative for recording and releasing orchestral concert performances. Entitled DG Concerts and Decca Concerts respectively, the project combines digital downloads with traditional CD releases, creating a new model for symphonic recordings.

Deutsche Grammophon will release an average of four live concert recordings per year of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for digital downloading only. In addition, one concert per year - a highlight of the Philharmonic's season - will be released on CD. The first CD release will be Stravinsky's Rite of Spring conducted by the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Music Director and exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist Esa-Pekka Salonen. That release, recorded earlier this year in surround sound will be the first commercially available recording from Walt Disney Concert Hall and will be released in September of 2006.

For more information, visit laphil.com, or go directly to itunes.com.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen, presents the finest in orchestral and chamber music, recitals, new music, jazz, world music and holiday concerts at two of the most remarkable places anywhere to experience music - Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. In addition to a 30-week winter subscription season at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the LA Phil presents a 12-week summer festival at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and home of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. In fulfilling its commitment to the community, the Association's involvement with Los Angeles extends to educational programs, community concerts and children's programming, ever seeking to provide inspiration and delight to the broadest possible audience.

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