Delos Diary - DePreist Tribute

What an eloquent tribute! In May of this year the Oregon Symphony published a deluxe 48-page perfect-bound booklet highlighting the life and career of its distinguished retiring music director, James DePreist. After 23 years at the helm Maestro DePreist is relinquishing this post although he will continue appearances and projects with the orchestra until at least 2008. His new title will be Laureate Music Director.

Over the past two decades DePreist has advanced the Oregon Symphony from an ensemble with a regional reputation into national prominence. The tribute booklet details how and why with an informative and often witty text and many excellent photographs. Jim Svejda, almost everyone's favorite classical music radio commentator, wrote the booklet text with his usual panache. His Chapter Eight, title "Records," is especially complimentary to Delos and the six recordings with DePreist and Oregon already issued by Delos prior to the Tribute's publication. The booklet is crammed with facts and statistics. Some are quite impressive. In his 23 years in Oregon James DePreist has conducted over 575 compositions by over 200 different composers. Listen up, Guinness Book of Records!

Delos's newest DePreist-Oregon release "American Contrasts" (DE 3291) features unusual repertoire by American composers Benjamin Lees, Vincent Persichetti and Michael Daugherty … really interesting modern scores, beautifully played with exemplary sound … overall a fine demonstration of the very qualities which have made DePreist's work with the Oregon Symphony so special.