Reference Recordings proudly presents our second collaboration with the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra, in a spectacular live recording of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony no.5. This richly emotional work was written in 1901 and 1902 while Mahler was recovering from a near-fatal illness. The premiere performance was on 18 October 1904, in Cologne, Germany. The fourth movement is probably Mahler’s most famous composition and is the most frequently performed of his works. About this new album, producer Victor Muenzer writes: “When in my early teens, my father brought home a recording of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. The two-LP set was an artist’s copy as he was a violinist in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I had never heard any music by Mahler. But the moment I put that LP on the turntable, my life changed… And I know that many people have had that same experience. Once again, we bring you the dream team of the beautiful acoustics of Walk Festival Hall, the unparalleled musicians of the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra, and the unrivaled present-day Mahlerian conductor, Sir Donald Runnicles.”

Each summer, the Grand Teton Music Festival unites more than 250 celebrated orchestral musicians led by Music Director Sir Donald Runnicles. These musicians represent over 84 orchestras and nearly 72 institutions of higher learning in North America and Europe. It has been recognised by The New York Times as one of the top 10 music festivals in the US and was chosen by BBC Music Magazine as their 2020 “Festival Choice”.

Sir Donald Runnicles is especially celebrated for his interpretations of Romantic and post-Romantic symphonic and opera repertoire which are core to his musical identity. He is the music director of the Grand Teton Music Festival (since 2005) and the Deutsche Oper Berlin (since 2009) and has held chief artistic leadership roles at the San Francisco Opera (1992–2008), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (2009–2016), and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s (2001–2007). Runnicles was also Principal Guest Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for more than two decades (2001–2023), and he is the first ever Principal Guest Conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (since 2019). In February 2024, Runnicles was appointed as Chief Conductor of the Dresden Philharmonic, beginning in the 2025/26 season.

2026 marks the 50th Anniversary of Reference Recordings, one of the most innovative and respected independent labels in the music business. Reference Recordings releases have been highly praised for their dedication to high quality sound in the service of great music. After more than 200 projects and many Grammy awards and nominations, RR’s first and second-generation team continues recording and releasing what many consider to be the finest-sounding classical, jazz and blues albums in the world. FRESH! is part of Reference Recordings’ mission to encourage unique and fine artists, and give them a strong platform for promotion and sales nationally and internationally.