The Projects are Among the First from the Newly Revitalized Classical Imprint

NEW YORK, April 26, 2017 – Decca Gold today announced releases from the Emerson String Quartet and Van Cliburn Piano Competition are among the first projects from the newly revitalized classical label imprint.

The label’s first album, Emerson String Quartet’s Chaconnes and Fantasias: Music of Britten and Purcell, was released on April 21. Together for over four decades, the acclaimed Quartet has won nine Grammys® (including two for Best Classical Album), three Gramophone Awards, the Avery Fisher Prize, and Musical America’s “Ensemble of the Year.” The 2016-17 season marks the Emerson Quartet’s 40th Anniversary and the Decca Gold album marks their celebration of this milestone. This album marks the Quartet’s return to Universal Music.

Decca Gold’s next release will encompass the live recordings for the top three prize medalists (Gold, Silver, Bronze) at The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, which will be held in June. In its 50-year history, the Cliburn has identified and ushered a host of exceptional artists to international prominence, including Barry Douglas, Olga Kern, Radu Lupu, Jon Nakamatsu, and Cristina Ortiz. The Gold Medal winner’s album will be released within two weeks of the June finals on all digital platforms, followed shortly by a global physical album release.

A number of other exciting projects are in the planning stages and will be announced in the months ahead. 

In making the announcement, Graham Parker, President of US Classical Music Labels, which includes Decca Gold, said, “I am thrilled that The Emerson String Quartet and Cliburn International Piano Competition are the first two releases on Decca Gold. Both are American icons, making music at the highest-level possible and engaging new audiences to classical music. This will set the tone for the exciting additional artists we will be announcing in the months to come.”

Decca Gold launched earlier this year as part of the Verve Label Group and Universal Music Classics to serve as the pre–eminent American home for a new roster of classical artists and partnerships. The label takes its inspiration from the historic Decca Gold Label Series dating back to 1956 that featured iconic artists such as Andrés Segovia, Leonard Bernstein, Claudio Arrau and Dave Brubeck.

About Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group (UMG) is the world leader in music-based entertainment, with a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising and audiovisual content in more than 60 countries. Featuring the most comprehensive catalog of recordings and songs across every musical genre, UMG identifies and develops artists and produces and distributes the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music in the world. Committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship, UMG fosters the development of services, platforms and business models in order to broaden artistic and commercial opportunities for our artists and create new experiences for fans. Universal Music Group is a Vivendi company. Find out more at: http://www.universalmusic.com.

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