Orchestra Wellington is reaching out to new audiences by going old school with a vinyl release, with a little help from RNZ Concert.
Photo: supplied
RNZ Concert sound engineers recorded Orchestra Wellington's live performances of Beethoven’s first and third symphonies in 2017, for broadcast in the daily radio programme Music Alive.
The performances and recordings were so good, the orchestra decided to release them on vinyl and CD.
It’s the first time a New Zealand orchestra has released a vinyl LP in 30 years.
The LP went on sale on Saturday at the final performance for the orchestra for 2018. Orchestra Wellington’s head of marketing Marek Peszynski says they almost sold out of stock they had on the night.
“We were blown away with the response. Classic [music] in particular is skyrocketing,” Marek says regarding the popularity of the vinyl. “Vinyl is at the highest point it’s been in 25 years.”
Marc Taddei and Kirsten Mason from Orchestra Wellington at the launch of Beethoven LIVE on vinyl. Photo: RNZ Concert
Marek says “varying ages from younger through to older people” are interested in the recordings.
Orchestra Wellington's Music Director Marc Taddei decided which recordings would be presented in this way. Both symphonies were already being prepared to be put onto CD, so it was an easy decision to put them on vinyl as well.
The two pieces offer a nice contrast says Marek. “[Symphony] number one was traditional for its time,” he says. “Then the third … was quite ground breaking for its time.
“Essentially it changed western music.”
