Pittsburgh Symphony and Reference Records Release World Premiere of ELEKTRA, Today

he latest collaboration between the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Reference Recordings, "Strauss: Elektra, Rosenkavalier," featuring the world premiere of the first symphonic suite from Elektra, will be released in the United States on November 18 as part of the FRESH! series.

This new recording presents orchestral suites based on two of the most significant operas in history. Der Rosenkavalier found its place in the concert hall from the beginning, first with two waltz sequences and later with the famous 1944 suite. But Elektra remained purely on the opera stage until now. Pittsburgh Symphony Music Director Manfred Honeck has made his own symphonic adaptation, in collaboration with the Czech composer Tomáš Ille. These Strauss suites, new and old, are bold, definitive interpretations from Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, in superb audiophile sound.

The release is steadily garnering critical acclaim. HRAudio.net calls this release "simply stunning" and MusicWeb International names it an "essential purchase for Strauss devotees."

This release is the sixth in the highly acclaimed Pittsburgh Live! series of multi-channel hybrid SACD releases on the FRESH! series from Reference Recordings. Each has received dozens of critical accolades. Dvo?ák/Janá?ek (FR-710SACD) and Bruckner 4 (FR-713SACD) have each received Grammy® nominations for Best Orchestral Performance.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is credited with a rich history of the world's finest conductors and musicians, and a strong commitment to the Pittsburgh region and its citizens. Past music directors have included Fritz Reiner (1938-1948), William Steinberg (1952-1976), André Previn (1976-1984), Lorin Maazel (1984-1996) and Mariss Jansons (1995-2004). This tradition of outstanding international music directors was furthered in fall 2008, when Austrian conductor Manfred Honeck became music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony.

The orchestra has been at the forefront of championing new American works, and gave the first performance of Leonard Bernstein's Symphony No. 1 "Jeremiah" in 1944 and John Adams' Short Ride in a Fast Machine in 1986. The Pittsburgh Symphony has a long and illustrious history in the areas of recordings and radio concerts. As early as 1936, the Pittsburgh Symphony broadcast on the airwaves coast-to-coast and in the late 1970s it made the groundbreaking PBS series "Previn and the Pittsburgh." The orchestra has received increased national attention since 1982 through network radio broadcasts on Public Radio International, produced by Classical WQED-FM 89.3. With a long and distinguished history of touring both domestically and overseas since 1900-including international tours to Europe, the Far East and South America-the Pittsburgh Symphony continues to be critically acclaimed as one of the world's greatest orchestras.

This release and the entire "Pittsburgh Live!" series are recorded and mastered by the team at Soundmirror, whose outstanding orchestral, solo, opera and chamber recordings have received more than 80 Grammy nominations and awards! Soundmirror has recorded for every major classical record label, including Reference Recordings.

FRESH! is part of Reference Recordings' mission to encourage outstanding artists and give them a strong platform for promotion and sales nationally and internationally.

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra recordings are made possible with generous support from BNY Mellon. "Strauss: Elektra, Rosenkavalier" will be available at http://pittsburghsymphonyorchestra.bigcartel.com and at Heinz Hall on November 18.

Media can request review copies of the release from Reference Recordings at 800-336-8866 or referencerecordings@gmail.com.