FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BEETHOVEN SYMPHONIES NOS.

4 AND 7 SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE MAY 7 ON PHILHARMONIA BAROQUE PRODUCTIONS SAN FRANCISCO, April 9, 2 !" Philharmonia Baroque Productions announces the May 7 release of two Beethoven symphonies, Nos. 4 and 7, featuring Music irector Nicholas Mc!egan and Philharmonia Baroque "rchestra. #ecorded during live performances at $irst %ongregational %hurch in Ber&eley, %alifornia on Novem'er () and ((, *)(* +,ymphony No. 4and ,eptem'er (* and (., *))/ +,ymphony No. 7-, this is the si0th disc to 'e released since the *)(( founding of the institution1s own record la'el. 2ocal reviewers praised the live performances of 'oth Beethoven symphonies. 3riting of the live performance of ,ymphony No. 4, the San Jose Mercury News noted that 4... 56he performance7 was a 8oy9clear, direct, intimate Beethoven: and San Francisco Classical Voice said, 46his was the perfect music for this conductor and this orchestra, so 'eloved for their 'alance of wit and profundity96his was fine Beethoven playing ; damn fine.: <n a review of the live performance of Beethoven1s ,ymphony No. 7, San Francisco Classical Voice called the playing 4passionate and full='odied, with a stri&ingly lush sound and unrelenting energy... 6he pure clarity of the strings and the 'old, slightly rustic sound of the winds infused the piece with an earthy quality9without sacrificing the wor&1s power and ma8esty.: >ll Philharmonia Baroque Productions recordings are distri'uted 'y harmonia mundi in the ?.,., ?.@., !ermany and >ustria and are availa'le in 'oth standard % and digital download formats from >maAon, i6unes and other online outlets, as well as all ma8or retailers and the Philharmonia Baroque "rchestra we'site, www.philharmonia.org. 2isteners will also 'e a'le to download the al'um in high resolution, *4='itB/C&DA audio, on D 6rac&s www.hdtrac&s.com. >ll si0 of the Philharmonia Baroque Productions recordings are produced and engineered 'y avid v.#. Bowles, who has produced the orchestra1s recordings since (//C. Philharmonia Baroque "rchestra has received recognition and critical acclaim for its recent recordings. 6he Ensem'le received a !#>MMFG nomination for Best "rchestral Performance for its Daydn symphonies and 'oth the *)(( and *)(* releases were included in The New York Times Best %lassical #ecordings lists. The New York Times praised the first Philharmonia Baroque Productions release of BerlioA1s Les Nuits dt as 4almost for'iddingly 'eautiful: and the most recent release, rahms Serenades as a 4...truly treasura'le disc.: 3riting of the third

release, Hivaldi1s The Four Seasons! San Francisco Chronicle said, 4<n this conte0t, the period= instrument sound of the orchestra is particularly pungent, with smo&y woodwind sonorities and a raw=edged 'ite to the string sound: and San Francisco Classical Voice proclaimed the recording was 4'rimming with color, vitality, and imaginative interpretation.: <n an article a'out the orchestra when Musical "merica named Philharmonia Baroque "rchestra its *))4 Ensem'le of the Fear, music critic Ioshua @osman said, 46his adventuresome 'and has carved out a niche as the nation1s liveliest purveyor of period performances. 6he uncommon 'rilliance of its instrumental playing infuses the historical=performance enterprise with a vitality and Aest that are worlds removed from dull conformity to the dictates of scholarship.: >mong the most=recorded period=instrument orchestras in the ?nited ,tates or in Europe, Philharmonia Baroque has made .4 highly praised recordings including its #ramo$hone award winning recording of Dandel1s Susanna for harmonia mundi, #eference #ecordings and BM!. <n *)((, the orchestra launched its own la'el, Philharmonia Baroque Productions, with an acclaimed recording of BerlioA1s Les Nuits d%t and Dandel arias featuring meAAo=soprano 2orraine Dunt 2ie'erson. 6he second % release, DaydnJ ,ymphonies No. ()4 London, No. KK, No. ()( The Clock, was nominated for a !#>MMFG >ward for Best "rchestral Performance. 6he ensem'le then went on to release a commended recording of Hivaldi violin concertos including The Four Seasons featuring violinist EliAa'eth Blumenstoc&. 6hese last si0 releases on the Philharmonia la'el including the upcoming eetho&en Sym$honies Nos. ' and ( are the first the orchestra has issued since *))7, when it self=released live recordings of Ia&e Deggie1s To )ell and ack and Beethoven1s ,ymphony No. /. ALBUM INFORMATION 2? 3<! H>N BEE6D"HEN +(77)=(K*K,ymphony No. 4 in B=flat Ma8or, "p. C) ,ymphony No. 7 in > Ma8or, "p. /* #eleased May 7, *)(. Philharmonia Baroque "rchestra Nicholas Mc!egan, conductor Philharmonia Baroque Productions #ecorded Novem'er () and ((, *)(* +,ymphony No. 4- and ,eptem'er (* and (., *))/ +,ymphony No. 7- live at $irst %ongregational %hurch, Ber&eley, %alifornia ABOUT PHILHARMONIA BAROQUE ORCHESTRA ,an $rancisco1s Philharmonia Baroque "rchestra has 'een dedicated to historically=informed performance of Baroque, %lassical and early=#omantic music on original instruments since its inception in (/K(. ?nder Music irector Nicholas Mc!egan, Philharmonia Baroque was named Musical "mericas Ensem'le of the Fear. 6he "rchestra performs an annual su'scription season in the ,an $rancisco Bay >rea, and is regularly heard on tour in the ?nited ,tates and

internationally. 6he "rchestra has its own professional chorus, the Philharmonia %horale, and welcomes such talented guest artists as meAAo=soprano ,usan !raham, pianist Emanuel >0, countertenor avid aniels, conductor Iordi ,avall and recorder player Marion Her'ruggen. 6he "rchestra has had numerous successful colla'orations with cele'rated musicians, composers and choreographers. Philharmonia Baroque premiered its first commissioned wor&, a one=act opera 'y Ia&e Deggie entitled To )ell and ack, in Novem'er *))C. <n colla'oration with the Mar& Morris ance !roup, Philharmonia Baroque gave the ?.,. premieres of Morris1 highly acclaimed productions of Denry Purcell1s *in+ "rthur and Iean=Philippe #ameau1s 'allet=opera, ,late. Philharmonia Baroque "rchestra was founded 'y harpsichordist and early music pioneer 2aurette !old'erg. Philharmonia Baroque has made .4 highly praised recordings for harmonia mundi, #eference #ecordings and BM!. 6he orchestra1s live recording of Dandel1s oratorio Susanna received a !#>MMFG nomination and a (//( #ramo$hone Ma+a-ine >ward for 'est 'aroque vocal recording. <n *)((, Philharmonia Baroque launched Philharmonia Baroque Productions and has released five recordings including archival performances of 2orraine Dunt 2ie'erson singing BerlioA1s Les Nuits dete and Dandel ariasL and DaydnJ ,ymphonies No. ()4 London, No. KK, No. ()( The Clock +nominated for a !#>MMFG >ward for Best "rchestral Performance-. ABOUT NICHOLAS M#$E$AN >s he em'ar&s on his fourth decade on the podium, Nicholas Mc!egan, hailed as 4one of the finest 'aroque conductors of his generation: +2ondon .nde$endent-, is increasingly recogniAed for his pro'ing and revelatory e0plorations of music of all periods. De has 'een music director of Philharmonia Baroque "rchestra for *7 years, and was >rtistic irector of the <nternational Dandel $estival !Mttingen for *) years +(//(*)((-. Beginning in the *)(.=*)(4 season he 'ecomes Principal !uest %onductor of the Pasadena ,ymphony. Dis approach to period style ; intelligent, infused with 8oy and never dogmatic ; has led to appearances with ma8or orchestras including the New For&, 2os >ngeles and Dong @ong PhilharmonicsL the %hicago, Milwau&ee, ,t. 2ouis, 6oronto and ,ydney ,ymphoniesL the %leveland and the Philadelphia "rchestrasL and the Northern ,infonia and ,cottish %ham'er "rchestra, where his programs often mingle Baroque with later wor&s. De is also at home in opera houses having conducted companies including %ovent !arden, ,an $rancisco, ,anta $e and 3ashington. English='orn Nicholas Mc!egan was educated at %am'ridge and "0ford. De was made an "fficer of the Most E0cellent "rder of the British Empire +"BE- 4for services to music overseas.: "ther awards include the Dalle Dandel PriAeL the "rder of Merit of the ,tate of 2ower ,a0ony +!ermany-L the Medal of Donour of the %ity of !MttingenL and a declaration of Nicholas Mc!egan ay, 'y the Mayor of ,an $rancisco in recognition of his wor& with Philharmonia Baroque.

PRESS AND MEDIA RELATIONS CONTACT @aren >mes %ommunicationsJ @aren >mes or @ristin ,chellinger +4(N- C4(=7474 or &arenO&arenames.com &ristinO&arenames.com Michael %osta, Philharmonia Baroque E0ecutive irectorJ +4(N- N*)=(*)7 or mcostaOphilharmonia.org $or a complete 'iography, visit www.philharmonia.orgBa'outBhistory Press photos are availa'le at www.philharmonia.orgBpress=roomBresources %%%