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 51-75 of 142 Available Recordings
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  • 51.
    Classics - Janacek: Glagolitic Mass; Dvorak / Shaw, Atlanta
    Classics - Janacek: Glagolitic Mass; Dvorak / Shaw, Atlanta
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80287 Release Date: 05/27/2003   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Antonín Dvorák,  Leos Janácek
    Performer:  Christine Brewer,  Helmut Roloff,  Karl Dent,  Marietta Simpson
    Conductor:  Robert Shaw
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Atlanta Symphony Chorus
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  • 52.
    Rainbow Body - Barber, Copland, Higdon, Theofanidis / Spano
    Rainbow Body - Barber, Copland, Higdon, Theofanidis / Spano
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80596 Release Date: 05/27/2003   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jennifer Higdon,  Chris Theofanidis,  Aaron Copland,  Samuel Barber
    Conductor:  Robert Spano
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
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  • 53.
    Piano - The Most Beautiful Melodies
    Piano - The Most Beautiful Melodies
    Label: Reference Gold   Catalog: 4894 Release Date: 01/28/2003   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Claude Debussy,  Sergei Rachmaninov,  Erik Satie  ... 
    Performer:  Peter Serkin,  Ronan O'Hora,  Andy Vinter,  Raymond Spasovski  ... 
    Conductor:  Robert Shaw,  Carl Davis,  Jonathan Carney,  Joseph Silverstein
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,  Utah Symphony Orchestra
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  • 54.
    Classics - Prokofiev: Symphonies No 1 & 5 / Levi, Atlanta So
    Classics - Prokofiev: Symphonies No 1 & 5 / Levi, Atlanta So
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80289 Release Date: 11/26/2002   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Sergei Prokofiev
    Conductor:  Yoel Levi
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
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  • 55.
    Sibelius: Symphonies No 1 & 5 / Levi, Atlanta SO
    Sibelius: Symphonies No 1 & 5 / Levi, Atlanta SO
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80246 Release Date: 11/26/2002   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jean Sibelius
    Conductor:  Yoel Levi
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
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  • 56.
    Classics - Shostakovich: Symphonies No 5 & 9 / Levi, Atlanta
    Classics - Shostakovich: Symphonies No 5 & 9 / Levi, Atlanta
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80215 Release Date: 10/22/2002   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Dmitri Shostakovich
    Conductor:  Yoel Levi
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
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  • 57.
    Classics - Respighi: Pines Of Rome, Etc / Lane, Atlanta So
    Classics - Respighi: Pines Of Rome, Etc / Lane, Atlanta So
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80085 Release Date: 07/23/2002   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ottorino Respighi
    Conductor:  Louis Lane
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
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  • 58.
    Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony / Spano, Goerke, Et Al
    Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony / Spano, Goerke, Et Al
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80588 Release Date: 07/23/2002   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Performer:  Brett Polegato,  Christine Goerke
    Conductor:  Robert Spano
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Atlanta Symphony Chorus
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  • 59.
    Classics - Szymanowski, Poulenc: Stabat Maters / Shaw, Et Al
    Classics - Szymanowski, Poulenc: Stabat Maters / Shaw, Et Al
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80362 Release Date: 06/25/2002   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Francis Poulenc,  Karol Szymanowski
    Performer:  Christine Goerke,  Marietta Simpson,  Victor Ledbetter
    Conductor:  Robert Shaw
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Atlanta Symphony Chorus
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  • 60.
    Telarc Celebrating 25 Years - The Classical Collection
    Telarc Celebrating 25 Years - The Classical Collection
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80611 Release Date: 06/25/2002   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Ottorino Respighi,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Joseph Brackett,  Jean Sibelius  ... 
    Performer:  Michael Murray,  John Longhurst,  Aline Brewer,  David Russell  ... 
    Conductor:  Jesús Lopez-Cobos,  Craig Jessop,  Paavo Järvi,  Benjamin Zander  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cincinnati Pops,  Mormon Tabernacle Choir,  Orchestra at Temple Square  ... 
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  • 61.
    Elegy / Shaw, Atlanta So & Chorus, Shaw Festival Singers
    Elegy / Shaw, Atlanta So & Chorus, Shaw Festival Singers
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80602 Release Date: 05/28/2002   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Arnold Schoenberg,  Johannes Brahms,  Paul Hindemith,  Ludwig van Beethoven  ... 
    Performer:  William Preucil
    Conductor:  Robert Shaw
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Robert Shaw Festival Singers,  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Atlanta Symphony Chorus
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  • 62.
    Classics - Copland: Third Symphony, Etc / Levi, Atlanta So
    Classics - Copland: Third Symphony, Etc / Levi, Atlanta So
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80201 Release Date: 04/23/2002   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Aaron Copland
    Conductor:  Yoel Levi
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
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  • 63.
    Classics - Hindemith: When Lilacs Last In Dooryard Bloom'd
    Classics - Hindemith: When Lilacs Last In Dooryard Bloom'd
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80132 Release Date: 04/23/2002   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Paul Hindemith
    Performer:  Jan DeGaetani,  William Stone
    Conductor:  Robert Shaw
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Atlanta Symphony Chorus
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  • 64.
    Orff: Carmina Burana / Runnicles, Hong, Atlanta So, Et Al
    Orff: Carmina Burana / Runnicles, Hong, Atlanta So, Et Al
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80575 Release Date: 01/22/2002   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Carl Orff
    Performer:  Earle Patriarco,  Stanford Olsen,  Hong Hei-Kyung
    Conductor:  Donald Runnicles
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Atlanta Symphony Chorus,  Gwinnettt Young Singers
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  • 65.
    The Best Of Bach
    The Best Of Bach
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80591 Release Date: 11/27/2001   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer:  Patricia Maybe,  Michael Murray,  Vincent Charbonnier,  Jacques Loussier  ... 
    Conductor:  Keith Clark,  Martin Pearlman,  Robert Shaw,  Jahja Ling  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Les Concerts du Monde,  Jacques Loussier Trio,  Boston Baroque  ... 
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  • 66.
    Great Choral Classics / Robert Shaw, Atlanta So
    Great Choral Classics / Robert Shaw, Atlanta So
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80577 Release Date: 05/22/2001   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Antonio Vivaldi,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Franz Joseph Haydn  ... 
    Conductor:  Robert Shaw
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Chorus,  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
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  • 67.
    Mahler: Symphony No 1 / Levi, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
    Mahler: Symphony No 1 / Levi, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80545 Release Date: 06/27/2000   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Gustav Mahler
    Conductor:  Yoel Levi
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
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  • 68.
    Rozsa: Violin Concerto, Etc / Mcduffie, Harrell, Levi, Et Al
    Rozsa: Violin Concerto, Etc / Mcduffie, Harrell, Levi, Et Al
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80518 Release Date: 02/22/2000   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Miklós Rózsa
    Performer:  Lynn Harrell,  Robert McDuffie
    Conductor:  Yoel Levi
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
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  • 69.
    Mahler: Symphony No 7
    Mahler: Symphony No 7 "song Of The Night" / Levi, Atlanta So
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80514 Release Date: 10/26/1999   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Gustav Mahler
    Conductor:  Yoel Levi
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
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  • 70.
    Dvorák: Stabat Mater / Shaw, Goerke, Simpson, Olsen, Et Al
    Dvorák: Stabat Mater / Shaw, Goerke, Simpson, Olsen, Et Al
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80506 Release Date: 09/28/1999   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Antonín Dvorák
    Performer:  Christine Goerke,  Marietta Simpson,  Stanford Olsen,  Nathan Berg
    Conductor:  Robert Shaw
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Atlanta Symphony Chorus
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  • 71.
    Shakespeare's Music
    Shakespeare's Music
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80551 Release Date: 07/27/1999   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Stephen Warbeck,  Patrick Doyle,  Giuseppe Verdi,  Felix Mendelssohn  ... 
    Conductor:  Erich Kunzel,  Yoel Levi,  David Zinman,  Lorin Maazel
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cincinnati Pops,  May Festival Chorus,  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra  ... 
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  • 72.
    Mahler: Symphony No 4, Songs Of A Wayfarer / Levi, Von Stade
    Mahler: Symphony No 4, Songs Of A Wayfarer / Levi, Von Stade
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80499 Release Date: 06/22/1999   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Gustav Mahler
    Performer:  Frederica Von Stade
    Conductor:  Yoel Levi
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
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  • 73.
    Dvorák: Slavonic Dances Op 46 & 72 / Levi, Atlanta So
    Dvorák: Slavonic Dances Op 46 & 72 / Levi, Atlanta So
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80497 Release Date: 02/23/1999   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Antonín Dvorák
    Conductor:  Yoel Levi
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
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  • 74.
    Figure Skating's Greatest Hits
    Figure Skating's Greatest Hits
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80504 Release Date: 01/26/1999   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Strauss Jr.,  Igor Stravinsky,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky,  Gustav Holst  ... 
    Performer:  John O'Conor,  Joseph Silverstein
    Conductor:  Erich Kunzel,  Robert Shaw,  Sir Charles Mackerras,  Yoel Levi  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cincinnati Pops,  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra  ... 
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  • 75.
    Gloria! - Music Of Praise And Inspiration / Shaw, Et Al
    Gloria! - Music Of Praise And Inspiration / Shaw, Et Al
    Label: Telarc   Catalog: 80519 Release Date: 10/27/1998   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Antonín Dvorák,  Frank Martin,  Aleksandr A. Kopďlov,  Arvo Pärt  ... 
    Performer:  Sylvia McNair,  Janice Taylor,  John Aler,  Tom Krause
    Conductor:  Robert Shaw
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,  Atlanta Symphony Chorus,  Robert Shaw Festival Singers  ... 
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