Recession? What recession? With so many arts groups facing financial woes and cutting back on product, it seems a little strange to hear about a new orchestra being launched. But, on Wednesday, a press conference is planned at Strathmore to announce the DC Philharmonic Orchestra, which will be based there. (dcphil.org)

To be conducted by John Baltimore, the new ensemble will bow April 9 and 10 with what has to be just about the most challenging program an untried orchestra could tackle -- Mahler's Resurrection Symphony, preceded by Samuel Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915 and Michael Torke's Bright Blue Music. Most orchestras would not put anything on a program with that long, daunting Mahler symphony (perhaps only the finale will be performed).

The starry soloists scheduled are soprano Harolyn Blackwell and mezzo Denyce Graves. The Heritage Signature Chorale will also participate. As for the orchestral personnel, a press release describes them thusly: "extremely versatile, gifted, and virtuosic professional musicians, who believe in and are committed to creating music, rich in soul and organic energy; music that is expressive, alive and buoyant, that reaches the very depths of the human element."