RPO's Gershwin CD Surpasses 10,000 in Sales

Rochester, NY – The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s Gershwin CD on the harmonia mundi usa label has hit a major milestone, selling more than 10,000 units worldwide since its release on May 8, according to harmonia mundi’s Vice President and Artistic Director, Robina Young.  A commercial and critical success, the CD – under RPO Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik and the Van Cliburn Award-winning pianist Jon Nakamatsu – has been in the top 25 on the Classical Billboard chart every week but one since its release.  Today’s Billboard update has the CD at number 14.

“All of us in the RPO family are thrilled that our latest recording project has reached this significant sales milestone, spurred on by rave reviews from many prestigious publications,” said the new RPO President & CEO, Charlie Owens. “This recording has made it possible for people across the country and around the world to hear our great orchestra, and we are proud of our ever-expanding role as an international ambassador for the city of Rochester.”

The harmonia mundi usa release features the 1925 Piano Concerto in F, the well-known Rhapsody in Blue and the rarely heard Cuban Overture and is available in a special SACD (Super Audio CD) hi-resolution format.  CDs are available for $20 (tax included) at the RPO box office, online at www.rpo.org, and wherever CDs are sold. 

For those who can’t get enough Gershwin performed live, Nakamatsu reprises Rhapsody in Blue with the RPO and Jeff Tyzik on May 9 and 10, 2008 in a pair of all-Gershwin WPOP concerts.  Tenor Doug LaBrecque also will be featured.  Tickets to that concert still are available online, at the RPO box office and by phone at 454-2100.