The North Carolina Symphony Orchestra is preparing to make its first internationally released recordings ever.

The Triangle Business Journal, based in Raleigh and serving the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, reports that the orchestra is currently in negotiations with the Swedish label BIS to make two studio recordings in its home venue, Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh, over a six-day period next year. The discs would be released in 2009 and 2010. The repertoire under discussion was not reported by the paper.

BIS is a respected independent label with distribution in 46 countries. Among the label's best-known projects are the highly regarded series of the complete cantatas of J.S. Bach performed by the Bach Collegium Japan and the edition of the complete works of Jean Sibelius, featuring Finland's Lahti Symphony Orchestra, that helped make a star of conductor Osmo Vanska.

The North Carolina Symphony has self-produced some concert recordings in recent years but has not made any disc for distribution beyond the state for more than two decades, according to the Journal. However, audiences and donations, along with the level of the NCSO's performances, have reportedly risen since the arrival of music director Grant Llewellyn in 2004.

By Matthew Westphal