As the newest member of the Delos team, I never personally knew Amelia S. Haygood: the label’s beloved founder and director from 1973 until her death in 2007. But with every Delos album I explore – old or new – I see potent evidence of her lasting influence in the wide and wonderful world of classical music recordings. Today would’ve been her 92nd birthday. Let’s therefore take a closer look at her legacy, from the perspectives of several (among many) major American artists whom she nurtured and brought to the musical public’s attention worldwide.
One of the primary tenets of Amelia’s guiding philosophy was her determination to provide recording opportunities to distinguished American artists who otherwise lacked recording platforms and the resultant international exposure. Thus it should come as no surprise that the first prominent conductor whom she chose to work with was the Afro-American maestro James DePreist: the nephew of legendary American contralto Marian Anderson. While quite a few of his recordings for Delos were with an international variety of orchestras (Samples from DE 3202 & DE 1006), many of his releases featured his own Oregon Symphony – then a little-known regional ensemble. As DePreist put it, “Amelia was the plow that broke the status quo plains of American recordings.”
Her studies in psychoacoustics and the physics of music led to her passion for cutting-edge recording technologies; many of even the earliest Delos recordings thus remain of demonstration quality. Again, as DePreist said, “because of her energy and genuine devotion, all of my Delos recordings are first rate productions and sonically stunning.” Also a former clinical psychologist, Amelia was always in touch with the therapeutic value of great music.
Thanks in part to its exposure on Delos, the Oregon Symphony (now under the baton of current director Carlos Kalmar) recently made its Carnegie Hall debut to considerable acclaim. Distinguished critic Allan Kozinn, in his enthusiastic review, acknowledged the label’s pivotal role: “…. (the orchestra’s) international reputation has grown since 1987, when it began recording big, opulent works and sonic spectacular CDs for the Delos label. Many of these discs, conducted by James DePreist, the orchestra’s music director at the time (and now emeritus), remain in print and show the ensemble to be a highly polished precision instrument.”
And this is but one example of how Amelia’s profound influence changed the lives and helped spur the careers of countless top-tier artists. Another of them, of course, is pianist Carol Rosenberger, Delos’ current director. Thanks to Amelia and Delos, her reputation as one of our most distinguished keyboard masters is secure. Carol, having worked closely with her for many years, is Amelia’s biggest fan, and strives to follow in her footsteps and observe her guidelines whenever possible in a rapidly evolving recording industry. Pianist/conductor Constantine Orbelian – Delos’s Artists & Repertoire director, as well as Delos’ most prolific recording artist, also worked extensively with Amelia, and is similarly dedicated to her ideals and vision. (Read a touching note on Amelia from Constantine Orbelian) Thus Amelia’s singular spirit lives on, and will continue to touch the lives of music lovers everywhere as long as there are Delos recordings to enjoy.
In case you’ve ever wondered where our “Delos” name comes from, I’ll close with a favorite quote from Amelia: “Greek mythology tells us that Apollo set out from the island of Delos every morning with his lyre in hand, bringing light, music and healing to the world. We at Delos share the awareness that our world needs the balm of music.”
-By Lindsay Koob