About the MSO Classics
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, led by Music Director Ken-David Masur, is among the finest orchestras in the nation and the largest cultural institution in Wisconsin. Since its inception in 1959, the MSO has found innovative ways to give music a home in the region, develop music appreciation and talent among area youth, and raise the national reputation of Milwaukee.
The MSO’s full-time professional musicians perform over 135 classics, pops, family, education, and community concerts each season in venues throughout the state. A pioneer among American orchestras, the MSO has performed world and American premieres of works by John Adams, Roberto Sierra, Philip Glass, Geoffrey Gordon, Marc Neikrug, Matthias Pintscher, and Dobrinka Tabakova.
The MSO has an over 50-year history of commercial recording under labels including Telarc, Koss Classics, Pro Arte, AVIE, and Vox/Turnabout, as well as its own label, MSO Classics. The MSO garnered national recognition as the first American orchestra to offer live recordings on iTunes, and the MSO was the first orchestra to offer downloadable binaural recordings.
Ken-David Masur and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra announce the release of Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem. This recording is a celebration of the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus' 50th Anniversary Season. Featured are bass baritone and former artistic partner Dashon Burton and soprano Sonya Headlam, and the Chorus was led by Cheryl Frazes Hill, Chorus Director. The recording was released worldwide on June 5, 2026 through the MSO's own label MSO Classics. The Requiem is the MSO's first recording available in Dolby Atmos and is available for streaming and download on all platforms. Performances took place in April 2025 in Allen-Bradley Hall.
WPR Music new album of the week: ‘Ein deutsches Requiem’ from the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Stream and Follow
BRAHMs: Ein deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem), Op. 45 (LIVE)
Ken-David Masur, conductor
Sonya Headlam, soprano
Dashon Burton, bass-baritone
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Milwaukee Symphony Chorus
Cheryl Frazes Hill, director
Recorded: April 11 - 13, 2025
Released: June 5, 2026
Aphorism Studios - Produced by Mark Alletag, Engineered by Brandon Johnson and Dan Nichols.
David Ludwig, Pictures from the Floating World (Live)
Ken-David Masur, conductor
Catherine Van Handel, bassoon
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Recorded: February 3 - 4, 2023
Released: January 30, 2026
Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 (Live)
Andreas Delfs, conductor
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Recorded: June 15 - 17, 2000
Released: September 15, 2005
Brahms Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80
Andrea Delfs, conductor and arranger
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Milwaukee Symphony Chorus
Recorded: June 21 - 23, 2000
Released: September 15, 2005
Brahms Triumphlied, Op. 55
Andrea Delfs, conductor
Paul Busselberg, baritone
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Milwaukee Symphony Chorus
Recorded: June 21 - 23, 2000
Released: September 15, 2005
Brahms Tragic Overture, Op. 81
Andreas Delfs, conductor
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Recorded: October 11 - 12, 2002
Released: September 15, 2005
Beethoven Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36
Andreas Delfs, conductor
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Recorded: September 20 - 22, 2002
Released: September 15, 2005
Beethoven Symphony No. 4 in B-Flat major, Op. 60
Andreas Delfs, conductor
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Recorded; June 20 - 22, 2003
Released: July 15, 2007
Brahms Schicksalslied, Op. 54
Andreas Delfs, conductor
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Milwaukee Symphony Chorus
Recorded: October 11 - 12, 2002
Released: September 15, 2005