Conductor Teodor Currentzis Founds New Record Label 

The Russian-based Greek conductor has created the label in collaboration with the Outhere label

Conductor Teodor Currentzis has launched his own label Theta, an imprint of the Belgium-based Outhere record label. Founded in 2004, Outhere has also partnered with sub-labels, including Alpha Classics, Linn Records, and Phi, among others. 

Theta was also launched alongside a performance produced with Outhere Music of the Scherzo from Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony by his ensemble, the Utopia Orchestra, to celebrate Brucker’s bicentenary. 

Currentzis currently serves as chief conductor of the SWR Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart, and is the artistic director of the musicAeterna ensemble and chamber choir. 

The first releases on Theta will be Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony and Mahler’s Third Symphony, both to be released in 2025. The recordings were made during sessions at Funkhaus Berlin. 

“Produced in partnership with Outhere Music, Utopia’s debut single showcases the exciting outcome achieved by combining Currentzis’ trademark meticulous approach with the excellence of the world’s best musicians,” Outhere posted on Facebook. “By challenging traditional interpretations and taking an uncompromising approach to quality, Currentzis creates a unique handcrafted performance befitting of this special anniversary.”

“Theta is our concept for a new utopia, a refuge in which the profound visions of musicians, visual artists, sound engineers, acoustic designers and other creatives come together to redefine the boundaries of music,” said Currentzis, according to Backstage Classical. 

Backstage Classical continued that the label’s name Theta — a letter in the Greek alphabet — “is intended to remind us of Currentzis' Greek origins,” and that after the annexation of Crimea, Currentzis also took on Russian citizenship.

“I have known and admired Teodor for a long time; he released his first three recordings on Outhere in the 2010s, including an unforgettable Mozart Requiem,” added Outhere Music’s president Charles Adriaenssen. “When he asked me to collaborate with him on this new musical adventure, I agreed because I thought it was important to give a voice to one of the most interesting music visionaries of our time.”