As we head into the last few weeks of a truly unusual year, we’re grateful that we’ve been able to continue making music. Despite unprecedented challenges, our artists, recording partners, and staff at studios around the world have stepped up to the plate and taken measures to safely keep the industry alive and well.

This past month, we were busy in one of our many homes away from home: the Czech Republic. At Reduta Hall, pianist and longtime PARMA collaborator Lucie Kaucká recorded a piano etude for Navona composer John A. Carollo, towards an upcoming PARMA release.

“There is something about Lucie’s playing.  She understands my music.” – Composer John A. Carollo

Over in Brno, we worked on a slightly different style of project. At the Orlí Street Theater Recording Studio, the B-Side Band with lead vocalist Roman Dragoun recorded an assortment of big band, choir, and solo vocal works.

Provided courtesy of B-Side Band. Photo by Tino Kratochvíl

We also continued to work with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra to record studio recordings, as well as live video recordings under the baton of chief conductor Sergey Smbatyan. Over the next months, the orchestra will be publishing recordings of music by Brahms, Beethoven, Borodin, as well as contemporary Maltese composer Alexey Shor.

At the end of the month, we continued in the city of Brno with recording some of the latest Czech works with the Brno Contemporary Orchestra – a brand new adaptation of Smetana’s cycle of symphonic poems “My Homeland”. The orchestra under leadership of the conductor Pavel Šnajdr asked several Czech composers to write a reflection of Smetana’s cycle as a celebration of the 100th anniversary of establishing Czechoslovakia.

We look forward to sharing these inspired projects with you. In the meantime, here’s to finishing 2020 strong!

We remain dedicated to keeping our artists, staff, and recording partners safe. Explore some of our current protocols below:

  • All our partner studios have implemented improved cleaning and sanitation procedures, and follow all state and local guidelines.
  • Our production personnel and musicians wear masks throughout the recording sessions, and practice social distancing whenever possible.
  • We’ve adjusted our approach to microphone placement to allow chamber musicians and soloists to be seated 6+ feet apart, while still capturing a lush and rich sound. 
  • With team members and partners based around the world, we are able to record locally and limit travel whenever possible.
  • Remote composer attendance remains an option for all recording sessions. Read more about remote session attendance here.