Symphonies Nos 1, 4 & 5

"The Fourth and Fifth Symphonies are masterpieces" (Gramophone)

"The extremes in which Kancheli is such an adept are here in full splendour"
- MusicWeb Feb 2005

James DePreist was born in Philadelphia in 1936. He studied at the conservatory in the city, initially taking composition as his major subject. Conducting then took a back seat, but it gradually became DePreist's real calling. A victory in the Dmitri Mitropoulos Competition in 1964 proved to be the springboard for a career on the podium. Leonard Bernstein chose him as his assistant conductor, and this engagement was followed by a three-year term as chief conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic and five years as assistant to Antal Dorati with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington.

From 1976-83 DePreist served as artistic director of the Quebec Symphony Orchestra and in 1980 he was engaged by the Oregon SO as their chief conductor. He became chief conductor of the Malmö Symphony Orchestra in 1991 and took over the same post with the Monte Carlo Philharmonic in 1994. The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra appointed him principal guest conductor for the 1993-94 season, and again for 1995-96.