Boston Symphony Orchestra and Google Play Team Up for Classical Live

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The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and its director, Andris Nelsons, recently partnered with Google to debut a unique music distribution initiative. Known as Classical Live, the project has recruited an international selection of orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, to offer music lovers access to live classical music recordings via Google’s online digital media store, Google Play.

Each season, the participating orchestras will release exclusive downloads of up to four live performance recordings on Google Play Music. Classical Live launched its first phase on June 15, offering access to two performances from Andris Nelsons’ inaugural season as BSO director in 2014. In addition to live concert recordings of movements from Bartók’s The Miraculous Mandarin and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6, the first release included a free bonus track of Brahms’ Variations on a Theme by Haydn.

Classical Live aims to create an extensive catalog of digital recordings accessible across 58 countries via Music.Google.com and Classical-Live.com. Its first phase will offer listeners a total of 22 complete works, and Classical Live will continue to develop a full global release schedule as more orchestras join the initiative.

Handel and Haydn Society Celebrates Bicentennial

Douglas Reeves is the founder of the Leadership and Learning Center, a global provider of educational system solutions. Away from the office, Doug Reeves enjoys listening to baroque and classical music, and he regularly attends Handel and Haydn Society concerts.

Founded in 1815, Handel and Haydn Society (H+H) is proud to celebrate its bicentennial with the 2014-2015 season. Since its inception, H+H has maintained a continuous performing schedule of music from the periods of Handel and Haydn. Additionally, the group has premiered several compositions in the United States, from Handel’s Messiah to Mozart’s Requiem.

The choral and orchestral organization will commemorate its anniversary with a series of programs featuring works first played by H+H in the 1800s, such as Haydn’s The Creation. Under the direction of Harry Christophers, the ensemble will also present Bach’s St. Matthew Passion on March 27 and 29 at Symphony Hall in Boston. For a full list of performances, as well as ticket information, visit http://www.handelandhaydn.org.