About the MSO Classics
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra 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.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary season of the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, Ken-David Masur and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra announced the release of Brahms's Ein deutsches Requiem. Featured are bass-baritone and former artistic partner Dashon Burton and soprano Sonya Headlam, and the chorus was led by Chorus Director Cheryl Frazes Hill. 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
Wagner: Prelude und Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde, WWV 90 (Live)
Andreas Delfs, conductor
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Recorded: Jan 9-10, 2004
Released: April 25, 2006
Mahler: Symphony No. 6 in A minor, "Tragic" (Live)
Andreas Delfs, conductor
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Recorded: November 5-7, 1999
Released: January 24, 2007
Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 82 & 83 (Live)
Andreas Delfs, conductor
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Recorded: September 23-25, 1999
Released: April 25, 2006
Haydn: Symphony No. 104 in D major, Hob. I:104, “London” (Live)
Andreas Delfs, conductor
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Recorded: February 18-20, 1999
Released: April 25, 2006
Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 (Live)
Edo de Waart, conductor
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Recorded: April 30-May 1, 2016
Released: August 14, 2026
Produced by Ian Harwood
Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 (Live)
Edo de Waart, conductor
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Recorded: May 6-7, 2016
Released: August 14, 2026
Produced by Ian Harwood
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64, TH 29 (Live)
Andreas Delfs, conductor
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Recorded: September 15-16, 2000
Released: September 15, 2005