International Classical Artists Launched – ICA Classics is the first artist management agency in the world to launch its own audio and AV label featuring both archive material from the BBC, WDR, BSO and others, plus performances from the agency’s own artists recording live around the world. The new label includes material recorded between 1954 and 2009 and will be distributed by Naxos. The team of ICA Classics has been involved in many audio and AV productions over the years, including The Art of Conducting; The Art of Piano; the archive-based DVD series Classic Archive; documentaries on Toscanini, Richter, Fricsay; EMI Classics’ Great Conductors of the 20th Century CD series; and the creation of the BBC Legends label – now comprising more than 250 CDs. The initial ICA Classics launch of 8 CDs and 18 DVDs will occur January 24. Most of their recordings will be drawn from the European public domain.
Portland Jazz Festival, February 18-27 – The Portland Jazz Festival will be held at venues thruout Portland Oregon and will include jazz education and outreach along with a series of concerts supporting the 2011 theme: Bridges and Boundaries: Jewish & African Americans Playing Jazz Together. This original festival idea came from Nat Hentoff’s writings about jazz as a meeting place for African and Jewish Americans. Jazz has historically broken down cultural differences, and there is a new wave today of Israeli musicians who have moved to New York and elsewhere across the U.S. Among the PDX Jazz headliners will be the SF Jazz Collective, Randy Weston, Don Byron (with his Mickey Katz project), The 3 Cohens, Regina Carter, Esperanza Spalding (with her Chamber Music Society), James Farm, Dave Frishberg, Nick Bartsch and Joshua Redman. Part of the jazz education effort is a week-long performance at Portland schools of The Incredible Journey of Jazz – a Black History Month celebration. The schedule and tickets are available online at pdxjazz.com or by calling 503-228-JAZZ.
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra Launches New Label – San Francisco’s acclaimed Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, led by Nicholas McGegan, is currently celebrating its 30th Anniversary Season. Joining many other orchestras around the world, it has launched its own recording label, Philharmonia Baroque Productions. Their first release – scheduled for March 2011 – will be a 1995 live recording of the late Lorraine Hunt Lieberson in Berlioz’ Les Nuits d’été and Handel arias. It was the first she ever sang the entire Berlioz song cycle in performance. The orchestra will also release two other discs this year: one of three Haydn symphonies and another all-Vivaldi disc with violinist Elizabeth Blumenstock – recorded last month at Skywalker Ranch. The Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra has made dozens of recordings over the years for Harmonia mundi, BMG and other labels. Their new label will be distributed by Harmonia mundi.
LG Innovation at CES – In addition to the FPR 3D polarized-glasses technology mentioned previously, and used with their LED Cinema 3D TVs in screen sizes from 32” to 55”, LG Electronics has announced other innovations in consumer electronics shown at CES in Las Vegas. Nearly 50% of their 2011 TV range will be 3D, including new plasma 3D sets. One of their set features Real 3D Sound Home Cinema System. Smart TV is a key focus for LG in 2011, with 30% of TVs delivering connected TV technology. The Smart TV platform, including a new web-browser and app store, was recognized with a CES Innovations Award. The technology is said to change the way that people watch TV. OLED screen technology is another LG development, with screens as large as 31 inches. Their hope is to eventually make that technology available in larger screens to the masses.
