The Kansas City Symphony's Reference Recordings Debut! 

Under the dynamic direction of Music Director Michael Stern, The Kansas City Symphony covers itself in glory with incidental music for The Tempest by Sir Arthur Sullivan and Jean Sibelius. This is the first high-resolution digital recording of the Sullivan (of Gilbert & Sullivan fame), and a masterful performance of the colorful Sibelius suites, including the seldom-heard "Prelude," which depicts the Shakespearean tempest in all its fury.

The highly-varied, colorful orchestration of the Sullivan and Sibelius scores gave RR’s legendary recording engineer “Prof.” Keith Johnson a challenge, which he met, as always, brilliantly. The master tapes were recorded at 176.4 kHz, 24 bits and prepared for CD release with HDCD technology. (The high-resolution files will be made available soon in RR’s exclusive HRx format, for those with computerized music servers.)

The Kansas City Symphony has previously recorded for Naxos, and Michael Stern, son of famed violinist Isaac Stern, has recorded for Sony, Arabesque, Denon, Hyperion and Naxos. RR is hopeful that this successful new release is the first in a long and fruitful association with Michael Stern and the Kansas City Symphony.

“The Sullivan is solid music, strongly in the Mendelssohn vein but with moods all its own—from tender melancholy to mild turmoil. The Sibelius is at turns rich, moody, exotic and humorous…its crunchy dissonances and distinctive coloristic textures are effective.” – Kansas City Star

Sullivan - Sibelius Shakespeare's Tempest Track Listing

Sir Arthur Sullivan

1.  Introduction  (5:44)   
2.  Act III Prelude  (1:51)
3.  Banquet Dance  (4:06)   
4.  Act IV Overture  (4:46)
5.  Dance of Nymphs and Reapers  (5:05)
6.  Act V Prelude  (4:38)   
7.  Postlude  (2:02)

Jean Sibelius

8.  Prelude, Op. 109 #1  (5:37)

Suite #2, Op. 109 #3  (14:29)
9.  Chorus of the Winds  (3:26)   
10.  Intermezzo  (1:22)
11.  Dance of the Nymphs  (1:32)   
12.  Prospero  (1:34)
13.  Song I  (0:56)   
14.  Song II  (0:51)   
15.  Miranda  (1:27)
16.  The Naiads  (1:16)   
17.  Dance Episode  (2:01)

Suite #1, Op. 109 #2  (20:06)
18.  The Oak Tree  (2:59)   
19.  Humoresque  (1:07)
20.  Caliban's Song  (1:15)   
21.  The Harvesters  (2:07)
22.  Canon  (1:27)   
23.  Scene  (1:28)
24.  Intrada  (0:41)   
25.  Berceuse  (1:43)
26.  Ariel's Song  (3:53)   
27.  The Storm  (3:22)