Live and kicking? Orchestras join Google Play to launch live recordings

The LSO, New York Phil and Royal Concertgebouw are among the orchestras to offer live performances on Google Play, as the online music service ramps up its classical offering

The London Symphony Orchestra made history on 25 June, 1913 when it became one of the first British orchestras to make a studio recording. A reduced roster of some 35 or 40 players, with the legendary conductor Arthur Nikisch, performed Beethoven's Egmont Overture, Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No 1 and Weber's Oberon Overture. Despite the acoustic challenges of recording symphonic music in the early 20th century, these pioneering efforts revealed an orchestra eager to embrace new technology.

A century later, the LSO is building on its recording legacy with another high-tech venture. It is teaming up with other leading orchestras to offer recordings of live performances for release on the streaming and download service Google Play. The Classical Live collaboration includes the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic and Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra - all of whom hope to build on their own recording histories. Each orchestra will offer recent live recordings as a digital download or through a streaming subscription. Google Play is available in 58 countries, and partnering with the platform may help orchestras expand their fanbases.