Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Composers

Biography

Active: 1947 -
One of the youngest of America's major orchestras, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra began in 1945 as the Atlanta Youth Symphony, created by members of the Atlanta Music Club to give high-quality performance opportunities to young musicians in the Atlanta area. Over its history, the ensemble has grown from a community orchestra of volunteers and part-time employees to a world-class ensemble with a reputation for musical excellence.

Under the Read more direction of the gifted conductor and teacher Henry Sopkin, the Atlanta Youth Symphony became the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) in 1947. Although still in its fledgling years, the Orchestra flourished under Sopkins' leadership: expanding its repertoire, increasing its programs for young players, and improving the level of musicianship among its members. As it grew, the Orchestra was able to attract world-renowned soloists such as Glenn Gould and Isaac Stern, which further enhanced its reputation as a top-notch regional orchestra. In 1964, the ASO, still an organization of part-time musicians, became a founding member of the Atlanta Arts Alliance, which later became the internationally acclaimed Woodruff Arts Center.

When Sopkin announced his retirement in 1966, an arduous search began to find a replacement for this talented and visionary conductor. The job was offered to Robert Shaw who initially turned down the position because he felt that he was not well-versed enough in orchestral repertoire to "stay ahead of the musicians." When he finally accepted the music director's position in 1967, it was obvious that he was equal to the challenge. Shaw immediately expanded the ASO to 87 full-time musicians, created the 200-voice Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and raised the expected level of musicianship to a new and highly professional standard. He also began to organize significant tours for the ASO which brought national recognition and recording opportunities to the group. Under Shaw's leadership, the ASO performed for the inauguration of President Carter in 1977 and released the first commercial digital orchestral recording for Telarc.

With its national reputation for excellence of musicianship well established, the ASO made numerous recordings, won 15 Grammy Awards and toured internationally under Shaw's direction. In 1988, Shaw retired from his position as ASO music director although he continued to hold the positions of director emeritus and conductor laureate until his death in 1999. Following Shaw's retirement, Yoel Levi became the third music director in ASO history. A conductor of international reputation, Levi has continued the tradition of musical excellence for which the ASO has become known. He led the ensemble on its second European tour in 1991 to enthusiastic audiences. In 1995, the ASO celebrated its 50th anniversary season with two nationwide television broadcasts and a successful tour of the northeastern United States, and performed for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in 1996 which was viewed by more than 3.5 billion people worldwide. In 2001, Robert Spano became music director, with Donald Runnicles as principal guest conductor. Read less

Featured Atlanta Symphony Orchestra CDs & DVDs:

Orff: Carmina Burana / Runnicles, Hong, Atlanta So, Et Al
Orff: Carmina Burana / Runnicles, Hong, Atlanta So, Et Al
Release Date: 01/22/2002   Label: Telarc  
Catalog: 80575   Number of Discs: 1
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Browse 26-50 of 142 Available Recordings
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  • 26.
    Vaughan Williams: Symphony No 5, Etc / Spano, Et Al
    Vaughan Williams: Symphony No 5, Etc / Spano, Et Al
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 60676 Release Date: 04/24/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Thomas Tallis,  Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Performer:  Nimon Ford,  Kelley O'Connor,  Thomas Studebaker,  Jessica Rivera  ... 
    Conductor:  Robert Spano
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Chamber Chorus,  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
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  • 27.
    Best Of Philip Glass
    Best Of Philip Glass
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 705119 Release Date: 02/20/2007   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Philip Glass
    Performer:  Philip Glass,  Paul Esswood,  Douglas Perry,  Linda Ronstadt  ... 
    Conductor:  Michael Riesman,  Dennis Russell Davies,  Christopher Keene,  Robert Shaw
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philip Glass Ensemble,  Stuttgart State Opera Orchestra,  Stuttgart State Opera Chorus  ... 
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  • 28.
    Sibelius: Kullervo / Spano, Hellekant, Gunn, Et Al
    Sibelius: Kullervo / Spano, Hellekant, Gunn, Et Al
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 60665 Release Date: 11/21/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jean Sibelius
    Performer:  Nathan Gunn,  Charlotte Hellekant
    Conductor:  Robert Spano
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Atlanta Symphony Men's Chorus
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  • 29.
    Sibelius: Kullervo / Spano, Hellekant, Gunn, Et Al
    Sibelius: Kullervo / Spano, Hellekant, Gunn, Et Al
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80665 Release Date: 11/21/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jean Sibelius
    Performer:  Charlotte Hellekant,  Nathan Gunn
    Conductor:  Robert Spano
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Atlanta Symphony Men's Chorus
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  • 30.
    The Divine Feminine
    The Divine Feminine
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80689 Release Date: 10/24/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Hildegard of Bingen,  John Tavener,  Arvo Pärt,  Tomás Luis de Victoria  ... 
    Performer:  Carlo Willems,  Elly Ameling,  Sylvia McNair,  Richard Leech  ... 
    Conductor:  Rudolf Werthen,  Robert Shaw,  Jesús Lopez-Cobos,  Yoel Levi  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Tapestry,  I Fiamminghi,  Robert Shaw Festival Singers  ... 
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  • 31.
    Strauss: Four Last Songs, Etc; Wagner / Brewer, Et Al
    Strauss: Four Last Songs, Etc; Wagner / Brewer, Et Al
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80661 Release Date: 08/15/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Richard Wagner,  Richard Strauss
    Performer:  Christine Brewer
    Conductor:  Donald Runnicles
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
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  • 32.
    Sacred - Great Sacred Music For Orchestra & Chorus
    Sacred - Great Sacred Music For Orchestra & Chorus
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80671 Release Date: 05/23/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Traditional,  Gabriel Fauré,  Sergei Rachmaninov,  Harrison Millard  ... 
    Performer:  Judith Blegen,  Christine Goerke,  Marietta Simpson,  Dawn Upshaw  ... 
    Conductor:  Craig Jessop,  Robert Shaw,  Norman Mackenzie
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Orchestra at Temple Square,  Mormon Tabernacle Choir,  Atlanta Symphony Chorus  ... 
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  • 33.
    Golijov: Ainadamar / Spano, Upshaw, Atlanta So
    Golijov: Ainadamar / Spano, Upshaw, Atlanta So
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 000642902 Release Date: 05/09/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Osvaldo Golijov
    Performer:  Kelley O'Connor,  Jessica Rivera,  Jesús Montoya,  José Eduardo Chama  ... 
    Conductor:  Robert Spano
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Atlanta Symphony Chorus Women
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  • 34.
    Del Tredici, Theofanidis, Bernstein / Spano, Et Al
    Del Tredici, Theofanidis, Bernstein / Spano, Et Al
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80638 Release Date: 10/25/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  David Del Tredici,  Chris Theofanidis,  Leonard Bernstein
    Performer:  Hila Plitmann,  Brett Polegato,  Richard Clement,  Nancy Maultsby
    Conductor:  Robert Spano
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Atlanta Symphony Chorus
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  • 35.
    Del Tredici, Theofanidis, Bernstein / Spano, Et Al
    Del Tredici, Theofanidis, Bernstein / Spano, Et Al
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 60638 Release Date: 10/25/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  David Del Tredici,  Chris Theofanidis,  Leonard Bernstein
    Performer:  Hila Plitmann,  Richard Clement,  Brett Polegato,  Nancy Maultsby
    Conductor:  Robert Spano
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Atlanta Symphony Chorus
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  • 36.
    Mozart: Requiem (Levin Edition) / Runnicles, Et Al
    Mozart: Requiem (Levin Edition) / Runnicles, Et Al
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80636 Release Date: 08/23/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  Ruxandra Donose,  Christine Brewer,  John Tessier,  Eric Owens
    Conductor:  Donald Runnicles
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Chamber Chorus,  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
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  • 37.
    Alvin Singleton
    Alvin Singleton
    Label: First Edition   Catalog: 43 Release Date: 06/21/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Alvin Singleton
    Conductor:  Louis Lane,  Robert Shaw
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
    CD: $12.99
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  • 38.
    La Belle France - Music Inspired By France
    La Belle France - Music Inspired By France
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80653 Release Date: 04/26/2005   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Gabriel Fauré,  Claude Debussy,  Maurice Ravel,  Erik Satie  ... 
    Performer:  Yolanda Kondonassis,  Judith Blegen,  John O'Conor,  Elly Ameling  ... 
    Conductor:  Leonard Slatkin,  Robert Shaw,  Neeme Järvi
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  St. Louis Symphony Orchestra,  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Atlanta Symphony Chorus  ... 
    CD: $11.99
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  • 39.
    Michael Torke - Ecstatic Collection
    Michael Torke - Ecstatic Collection
    Label: Ecstatic Records   Catalog: 92299 Release Date: 11/02/2004   Number of Discs: 6
    Composer:  Michael Torke
    Performer:  Catherine Bott,  Valdine Anderson,  Kurt Ollmann,  John Harle  ... 
    Conductor:  David Zinman,  Michael Torke,  Edo De Waart,  Yoel Levi  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Baltimore Symphony Orchestra,  Argo Band,  Netherlands Radio Chorus  ... 
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  • 40.
    Michael Torke - Three
    Michael Torke - Three
    Label: Ecstatic Records   Catalog: 92203 Release Date: 11/02/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Michael Torke
    Performer:  John Harle
    Conductor:  Yoel Levi,  David Alan Miller,  Michael Torke,  David Zinman
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Albany Symphony Orchestra,  Philharmonia Orchestra  ... 
    CD: $14.99
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  • 41.
    Berlioz: Requiem / Spano, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Et Al
    Berlioz: Requiem / Spano, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Et Al
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80627 Release Date: 08/24/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Hector Berlioz
    Performer:  Frank Lopardo
    Conductor:  Robert Spano
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Atlanta Symphony Chorus
    CD: $16.99
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  • 42.
    Berlioz: Requiem / Spano, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Et Al
    Berlioz: Requiem / Spano, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Et Al
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 60627 Release Date: 08/24/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Hector Berlioz
    Performer:  Frank Lopardo
    Conductor:  Robert Spano
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Atlanta Symphony Chorus
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  • 43.
    Fauré: Pelléas Et Mélisande; Berlioz: Les Nuits D'été
    Fauré: Pelléas Et Mélisande; Berlioz: Les Nuits D'été
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80084 Release Date: 08/24/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Hector Berlioz,  Gabriel Fauré
    Performer:  Elly Ameling
    Conductor:  Robert Shaw
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
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  • 44.
    Poulenc, Stravinsky / Shaw, Murray, Atlanta
    Poulenc, Stravinsky / Shaw, Murray, Atlanta
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80643 Release Date: 08/24/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Igor Stravinsky,  Francis Poulenc
    Performer:  Sylvia McNair,  Michael Murray
    Conductor:  Robert Shaw
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Atlanta Symphony Chorus
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  • 45.
    Bella Tuscany - Music Inspired By Tuscany
    Bella Tuscany - Music Inspired By Tuscany
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80644 Release Date: 06/22/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Antonio Vivaldi,  Pietro Mascagni,  Giuseppe Verdi,  Tomaso Albinoni  ... 
    Performer:  Paul Patterson,  Yolanda Kondonassis,  Angel Romero,  Fernando De La Mora
    Conductor:  Erich Kunzel,  Rudolf Werthen,  Sir Charles Mackerras,  Louis Lane  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cincinnati Pops,  Orchestra of Flanders,  May Festival Chorus  ... 
    CD: $10.99
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  • 46.
    Higdon: City Scape, Concerto For Orchestra / Spano, Atlanta
    Higdon: City Scape, Concerto For Orchestra / Spano, Atlanta
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80620 Release Date: 03/23/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jennifer Higdon
    Conductor:  Robert Spano
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
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  • 47.
    The Best Of Barber - Adagio For Strings, Agnus Dei, Etc
    The Best Of Barber - Adagio For Strings, Agnus Dei, Etc
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80632 Release Date: 10/28/2003   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Samuel Barber
    Performer:  Arietha Lockhart,  Jon Kimura Parker,  Sylvia McNair,  Robert McDuffie
    Conductor:  Robert Shaw,  Yoel Levi,  Leonard Slatkin
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Robert Shaw Festival Singers,  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
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  • 48.
    Beethoven: Symphony No 9 / Runnicles, Atlanta So, Et Al
    Beethoven: Symphony No 9 / Runnicles, Atlanta So, Et Al
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80603 Release Date: 09/23/2003   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer:  Elizabeth [mezzo sop] Bishop,  Alastair Miles,  Stephen Gould,  Mary Dunleavy
    Conductor:  Donald Runnicles
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Atlanta Symphony Chorus
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  • 49.
    American Maestros - Classical Selections
    American Maestros - Classical Selections
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80606 Release Date: 07/22/2003   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Ralph Vaughan Williams,  Traditional,  George Frideric Handel,  George Enescu  ... 
    Performer:  Christine Goerke,  Richard Leech,  Sylvia McNair
    Conductor:  Robert Spano,  Craig Jessop,  Martin Pearlman,  Erich Kunzel  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Orchestra at Temple Square,  Mormon Tabernacle Choir  ... 
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  • 50.
    Classics - Mendelssohn: Midsummer Night's Dream, Symphony 4
    Classics - Mendelssohn: Midsummer Night's Dream, Symphony 4
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80318 Release Date: 06/24/2003   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Felix Mendelssohn
    Conductor:  Yoel Levi
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
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