Album Notes

The resounding majesty of brass has thrilled audiences since the days of Gabrieli in the Venetian San Marco's Cathedral. The American tradition of brass playing was established by the great bandsmen and soloist of the 19th century and developed by the best orchestral brass sections of the 20th. Today, it is respected the world over for its power, beauty, and accuracy. This recording presents the pristine phrasing and golden brass tone that powers one of the world's most beloved ensembles, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. These musicians are required, by trade, to evoke an encyclopedic range of emotions, thoughts, and psychological conditions with authority, precision and quickness. Nightly, they create fire and excitement in America's finest opera house with sweetly singing and soaring horns. From ringing open sounds, to muted effects, to pensive and tender quiet passages, the vanguard of 21st century brass playing is on display here...and it is a glorious thing to hear. - Wynton Marsalis