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CSO Brass Quintet members are Principal Trumpet Esteban Batallán (top row, from left), horn David Griffin and trumpet John Hagstrom; trombone Michael Mulcahy (bottom row, left) and Principal Tuba Gene Pokorny.
Recorded in Tokyo’s Kioi Hall, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet presents “Apex,” a distinctive blend of old and new, combining bold transcriptions of classic works with vibrant pieces by compelling contemporary composers. Members of the CSO Brass Quintet are Principal Trumpet Esteban Batallán, horn David Griffin, trumpet John Hagstrom, trombone Michael Mulcahy and Principal Tuba Gene Pokorny.
In a chamber-music setting, the CSO brass section’s brilliance, power and unmistakable focus are heard with added transparency, balancing bold fanfares with moments of lyricism and virtuosity.
The label MClassics released “Apex” on March 27, 2026. Though the disc was originally slated exclusively for release in Japan, the Symphony Store has secured an inventory for sales within the United States. The Symphony Store is the exclusive domestic distributor for physical copies of this album, which also is available on all major streaming platforms.
Among the tracks are Enrique Crespo’s Suite Americana No. 1, J.S. Bach’s Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C Major BWV 564 (arr. for brass quintet by F. Mills), the overture from Verdi’s opera Nabucco (arr. for brass quintet by M. Pierobon) and the third movement from Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 73 (arr. for brass quintet by D. Sipe).
The CSO Brass Quintet, joined by organist Patrick Godon, will perform an all-American program on June 16 at Symphony Center. Part of the CSO’s/SCP’s America 250 programming, the concert will feature works by Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, Charles Ives and German-American film composer Hans Zimmer. Tickets are on a pay-what-you-wish basis, starting at $15.
Buy “Apex” at the Symphony Store
