Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla has signed an exclusive recording deal with Deutsche Grammophon (DG). Amazingly, she’s the first female conductor to have to such a deal with the venerable German label.
Born in Vilnius, the 32-year-old conductor hit headlines last year when City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) appointed her as its next music director – a post previously held by Andris Nelsons, Simon Rattle and Sakari Oramo. In 2012 she won the Salzburg Young Conductors Award, and has since held positions with Los Angeles Philharmonic, Bern City Theatre and Salzburg Landestheater.
Now, Gražinytė-Tyla is set to release her debut album on DG, featuring works by Polish composer Mieczysław Weinberg. For the recording she’ll conduct CBSO and violinist Gidon Kremer, as well as chamber orchestra Kremerata Baltica.
“DG was part of my musical upbringing,” said Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla. “It’s very exciting that our partnership will document some of the musical adventures that the fabulous CBSO and I are about to embark on together.”
Added DG president DR Clemens Trautmann: “Mirga is a very special musician, someone whose passion and commitment is communicated with irresistible eloquence. She has made a profound impression with the CBSO, introducing new repertoire and shining new light on works from the symphonic mainstream.”