January 2012

From the Gramophone review of our Mahler 1 with the Seoul Philharmonic :

"The orchestra’s keen and articulate display is greeted by a vociferous ovation, the applause retained then quickly faded in Michael Fine’s splendid, sophisticated-sounding production for DG. "

January 2012

Handel on the Road :

We'll record an all Handel program with pianist Daria van den Bercken in the Beethovensaal, Hannover at the end of January.
Daria's Handel on the Road   has been delighting the public both in Amsterdam and via video. She will record on Gerd Finkenstein's superb Bosendoerfer Imperial.

December 2011

Next stop, Vienna to record Renaud Capucon

Next stop, Vienna to record Renaud Capucon, Daniel Harding, and the Vienna Philharmonic in two masterpieces, the violin concertos of Brahms and Berg.

December 2011

Post production is nearly finished on the Seoul Philharmonic's stunning live recording

Post production is nearly finished on the Seoul Philharmonic's stunning live recording of Mahler's Symphony Nr. 2 with Maestro Myung Whun Chung. This is scheduled as an Easter release by Deutsche Grammophon.

December 2011

The Beethovensaal in Hannover was the setting for Valentina Lisitsa's most recent recording

The Beethovensaal in Hannover was the setting for Valentina Lisitsa's most recent recording: a program of rare and fiendishly demanding Liszt including the famously unplayable La Contradbandista. Valentina played an extraordinary Boesdendorfer Imperial meticulously prepared by Gerd Finkenstein. As usual, Wolf-Dieter Karwatky was tonmeister, Michael Fine produced. Valentina will play a full recital at the Royal Albert Hall on June 19, 2012.

December 2011

Embarrassing overproduction of Mahler in the past decades has raised the bar ridiculously high

Even though the almost embarrassing overproduction of Mahler in the past decades has raised the bar ridiculously high, worthwhile recordings do occasionally seep through and, in the case of the Houston Symphony under Hans Graf, demand to be taken seriously. Graf’s musical values are entirely different from Sanderling’s; clarity is prized above all, not merely in the musical line but in each little diversion along the way. But individual threads never dangle far from the musical fabric.

Perhaps the only similarity between these recordings is their use of non-traditional Mahler singers. Although mezzo-soprano Jane Henschel, a frequent performer of gramophone.co.uk Wagner and Strauss, finds herself on familiar ground, it’s Gregory Kunde – generally a bel canto tenor – who remains the standout. I’m not sure how much of Kunde’s refined elegance would soar above the orchestra in a live performance but this is the first Das Lied recording in a long time that made me wish Mahler wrote more for the

November 2011

Superb reviews from the leading British newspapers

With superb reviews from the leading British newspapers, it's no surprise that the Virgin set of Faure's complete chamber music is on the specialty classical recording charts in England. As Andrew Clements concluded his five star review in the Guardian, " ...it's a real treat to hear chamber-music playing of such assurance and enquiring intelligence."

November 2011

Naxos releases Michael's production of Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde recorded live

Naxos releases Michael's production of Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde recorded live by the Houston Symphony with Hans Graf, tenor Gregory Kunde, and mezzo-soprano Jane Henschel.  Naxos has previously released Hans Graf's critically lauded recording of the Zemlinksy Lyric Symphony, also recorded in concert with the Houston Symphony and recorded by Michael Fine.

October 2011

The Seoul Philharmonic's 2nd recording

The Seoul Philharmonic's 2nd recording, a stunning live performance of Mahler's 1st Symphony conducted by Myung Whun Chung and recorded by Michael Fine at the Seoul Arts Centre, will be released in October.  The SPO's first recording, music of Debussy and Ravel, has already received a Gold Record in Korea and sources there tell us that Platinum is not far away for this critically lauded recording.  Future releases include live recordings of Mahler's 2nd Symphony.

August 2011

First recording with the SPO/Chung goes 'Gold' three weeks after its release.

First recording with the SPO/Chung goes 'Gold' three weeks after its release. In the photograph, Pete Song, head of Universal Classics, Korea, Maestro Chung, and Michael Fine. The photograph was taken after a full day of recording sessions for Tchaicovsky's Pathetique and Rachmaninoff's own orchestration of Vocalise. Michael will join the orchestra for their European tour beginning at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam on August 19, continuing to the Edinburgh International Festival, Grafenegg, and the Bremen Musikfest. Next CD release: Mahler Symphony 1 in October.

August 2011

Deutsche Grammophon releases Libera with soprano Sumi Jo, the Prague Philharmonia, and conductor Ondrej Lenard.

Deutsche Grammophon releases Libera with soprano Sumi Jo, the Prague Philharmonia, and conductor Ondrej Lenard. The recording celebrates the great Korean singer's 25th anniversary on the stage. The recording was produced by Michael Fine with engineer Jin Choi.

August 2011

EMI/Virgin Classics announces the release of The Complete Chamber Music of Faure

EMI/Virgin Classics announces the release of The Complete Chamber Music of Faure, recorded last summer and fall in Paris with a stellar group of French musicians. The recording was produced by Michael Fine with engineer Wolf-Dieter Karwatky.

August 2011

A souvenir of Michael Fine's concert with the Opole Philharmonic in June

A souvenir of Michael Fine's concert with the Opole Philharmonic in June, here accompanying the Mozart Clarinet Concerto with clarinetist Michael Kowalski.

July 2011

The Seoul Philharmonic's first recording under the new DGG contract will be released in July.

Maestro Myung Whun Chung leads the orchestra in a program of Debussy and Ravel. The recording was produced and edited by Michael Fine. The Seoul Philharmonic plays in Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, the Edinburgh Festival, Grafenegg, and opens the Bremen Musikfest in August.

July 2011

Music Web International

"Praise too here for the engineering and production of the disc. Ace producer Michael Fine and his engineer Wolf-Dieter Karwatky have created a disc of demonstration quality. There is a wealth of orchestral detail—including extended ‘ethnic’ percussion and a vast dynamic range all of which has been captured without excessive spotlighting of instruments. Add to that the need to integrate the solo line believably into the sound picture and the fact that the second concerto was recorded live—not that one is aware of any extraneous sounds or fallible playing for an instant—and you can see that the scale of what they have achieved is very impressive indeed. The same can be said of the playing of the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra under Lothar Zagrosek. It says something about the stature of Naxos as a label that established performers of such stature appear here as a matter of course ... Indeed, I would go as far as saying that this is one of the finest concerto discs from Naxos that I have heard. On the strength of his performance here I will look forward to hearing more from cellist Mark Kosower." Read the entire review

July 2011

Michael Fine conducts Opole Philharmonic

Michael Fine conducted the Opole Philharmonic in the final concert of the orchestra's season.

June 2011

Next recordings include a disc with French clarinetist Julien Herve to be called 'A Tribute to Benny Goodman'

Next recordings include a disc with French clarinetist Julien Herve to be called 'A Tribute to Benny Goodman'  The disc will be recorded in Trappes, France.  In August, Michael will record Tchaicovsky's Symphony 6 and Mussorgsky's Pictures with Mo. Myung Whun Chung and the Seoul Philharmonic

May 2011

Fine Sound Productions has had a busy spring. 

Fine Sound Productions has had a busy spring.  In late March, we traveled to Prague to record the legendary Korea soprano Sumi Jo in a program ranging from Andrew Lloyd Webber to Bellini in celebration of the 25th anniversary of her debut this September.  The Prague Philharmnonia under Ondrej Lenard accompanied Sumi in the Rudolfinum.  Michael Fine produced with Jin Choi, engineer.  Michael also finished mixing the Faure Complete Chamber Music Project  with Wolf-Dieter Karwatky– five CDs for EMI to be released later this year.  The second edit of Julius Kim's recording of the Rachmaninoff ‘5th Concerto’ and Shostakovitch 2nd Piano Concert has just been finished as well.

May 2011

Coming in May from Naxos

A new recording of Ginastera's poignant and evocative cello concertos played with insight, conviction, and virtuosity by Mark Kosower, principal cellist of the Cleveland Orchestra, with the Bamberg Symphony conducted by Lother Zagrosek. The sessions were produced and edited by Michael Fine.

February 2011

Pianist Julius Kim recorded Rachmaninoff's '5th' and the Shostakovich 2nd Piano Concerto in Abbey Road Studios with the London Symphony Orchestra, Michael Francis conducting.

The Rachmaninoff is an arrangement of the composer's 2nd Symphony for piano and orchestra by Alexander Warenberg and is the first recording of the work with a major orchestra. The recording was produced by Michael Fine who is now editing the recording.

January 2011

SONY Classical (Korea) releases Eugene Choi's new CD of Liszt Transcriptions on January 25th

The well chosen program beautifully showcases the young Korean pianist's compelling blend of lyricism, poetry, and virtuosity. The recording was produced by Michael Fine at the Beethovensaal in Hannover with Wolf-Dieter Karwatky as engineer.

January 2011

NAXOS releases the London Symphony's new recording of Bartok and Brahms with Jonathan Pasternack conducting.

The recording, produced in Abbey Road studios by Michael Fine and engineered by Wolf-Dieter Karwatky, was the first large orchestra recording made entirely with digital microphones, supplied by Sennheiser and Neumann.

November 2010

SEOUL PHILHARMONIC AND MYUNG WHUN CHUNG

The Seoul Philharmonic with Maestro Myung Whun Chung have begun a major recording program with Michael Fine and Fine Sound Productions. Post-production has just been completed on a recording of Debussy and Ravel; Mahler’s 2nd Symphony was recorded at the Seoul Arts Centre in September and now, the orchestra will record Mahler’s 1st Symphony in concert on November 3 with Michael Fine producing and engineer Wolf-Dieter Karwatky. Discussions with a major label for distribution and marketing are underway.

September 2010

IAN PARKER’s DEBUT CD FOR ATMA

Canadian pianist Ian Parker’s new CD of concertos by Ravel, Stravinsky, and Gershwin with the London Symphony Orchestra has been released to critical acclaim. The recording was made in Abbey Road and produced by Michael Fine. As the Toronto Star puts it:

Young Canadian pianist Ian Parker brings youthful shimmer and silken restraint to George Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F Major and Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major, demonstrating how close in style these two pieces really are. The real treat on this disc is a cappricio by Igor Stravinsky, a boisterous romp we should hear more often. The London Symphony Orchestra is in fine form under conductor Michael Francis.

July-October 2010

The Faure Project for Virgin

Over the summer, Michael Fine recorded the complete chamber music of Faure with a group of the finest French musicians in the world including Renaud Capuçon, Gautier Capuçon, Gérard Caussé , Nicholas Angelich, Michel D’Alberto, Nicholas Angelich, and the Quator Ébène. Michael worked with engineer Wolf-Dieter Karwatky; recording took place at the Foundation Singer-Polignac. The project is now in post-production

May 2010

Orchestra Music of Ravel with the Rotterdam Philharmonic and conductor Yannick Nezet:

Orchestra Music of Ravel with the Rotterdam Philharmonic and conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin has been awarded the 2010 Edison Award as Best Orchestral Recordings. The EMI disc, produced and edited by Michael Fine, has received widespread critical acclaim for performance and sonics. It has already been selected a a Gramophone Editors Choice (December), BBC CD of the Week and has just won Canada's Res Musica 'Symphonic CD of the Year. Belgium's Knack magazine referred to Michael Fine as one of the top European producers. Hugh Canning in the London Times concluded his 5 star review: 'I’ve not heard a more gorgeously played orchestral disc all year.

April 2010

The Swedish label BIS has released a DVD commemorating Gergiev's final performance:

The Swedish label BIS has released a DVD commemorating Gergiev's final performance as Chief Conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic in a performance of Brahms A German Requiem with soloists Mariusz Kwiecien and soprano Solveig Kringelborn and the Swedish Radio Choir. The video was directed by Christiaan van Scheermbeeck, the audio was produced by Michael Fine with engineer Wolf-Dieter Karwatky.

March 2010

The Rachmaninoff project :

The Rachmaninoff project : Ukranian pianist Valentina Lisitsa with Michael Francis and the London Symphony Orchestra recorded the four Rachmaninov Piano Concertos in Abbey Road and immediately after Christmas recorded the 1st Piano Sonata, Moments Musicaux and a selection of Preludes in Hannover's Beethovensaal. The Paganini Rhapsody was recorded in March with the LSO and Michael Francis in Abbey Road. Michael Fine has produced all sessions with engineer Wolf-Dieter Karwatky.

January 2010

Post-production on Emmanuel Pahud's new CD - Fantasy:

Post-production on Emmanuel Pahud's new CD - Fantasy: A Night at the Opera - with the Rotterdam Philharmonic and Yannick Nezet-Seguin has been finished. This delightful collection of operatic transcriptions and fantasies for flute will be released early in 2010 by EMI Classics.

January 2010

Michael Fine has signed a new three contract as Artistic Advisor to the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra:

Michael Fine has signed a new three contract as Artistic Advisor to the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, beginning January 2010. The Seoul Philharmonic recently made its European debut under Maestro Myung Whun Chung at the Bozar in Brussels. Next year, the SPO will play a major European tour beginning in Italy and ending in St Petersburg with stops in Germany and the Czech Republic along the way. Michael Fine will also produce sessions with the orchestra for a new SPO label to be distributed by Naxos.

November 2009

Virgin Classics release Renaud Capucon's new recording of the Beethoven and Korngold Violin Concertos:

Virgin Classics release Renaud Capucon's new recording of the Beethoven and Korngold Violin Concertos: Yannick Nezet-Seguin leads the Rotterdam Philharmonic. The recording was produced at the Netherlands Radio Studio in Hilversum by Michael Fine who also edited the recording. The engineer was Wolf-Dieter Karwatky. Capucon played the renowned Ysaye Guarnerius del Gesu. Critic Harry Collier wrote: 'The Rotterdam Philharmonic sounds almost like the Vienna Philharmonic. Perhaps it is a trick of the recording engineers. Whatever: a good disc.' The recordings was a BBC CD of the Week.