Lately, there's been some good news in the troubled world of classical music record companies and distributors--still reeling from the changes in listening (and buying) patterns.
When record distributor Codaex U.K., Ltd. went out of business in July, it looked as if dozens of small labels would lose British distribution. (Codaex U.K. went under shortly after the collapse of parent company The Codaex Group, one of the largest distributors in Europe.)
The situation for classical indies seemed hopeless, but a joint venture between Codaex and Challenge Classics, called New Arts International, survived bankruptcy. And New Arts International recently announced that it will be handling Codaex U.K.'s slated releases.
It was Britain's own Norman Lebrecht who first posted the good news. Accordingly, NAI will now distribute releases from Australian Eloquence and the Canada-based ATMA Classique, among other labels.
Here are just a few of the titles scheduled for next month...
ATMA Classique: Pianist Janina Fialkowska performing Schubert piano sonatas. Fialkowska's Chopin Recital 2 recording on the ATMA label won a BBC Music Magazine Award earlier this year.
ATMA Classique: Pacific Baroque Orchestra in Handel's opera Orlando, led by Alexander Weimann. The recording features soprano Karina Gauvin and countertenor Owen Willetts.
Discadia: The Pavão Quartet performing music of English composer Carlo Martelli. This English string quartet won a Grammy award in 2012 for the Light and Gold CD they recorded with Eric Whitacre, which reached number one on the classical charts on both sides of the Atlantic. The group launched their increasingly successful recording career with Someone to Watch Over Me.
Distribution companies in Spain have faced similar fates as of late. Harmonia Mundi closed its Spanish offices in May. President Eva Coutaz told Classical Music Magazine: "Sadly we were forced to close HM Iberica due to the very bad economical situation in Spain and especially that of the record market, which has been suffering in Spain for many years."
Spanish distributor Diverdi also went out of business earlier this year. However, Lebrecht's "Slipped Disc" reports that the management of Diverdi were able to regroup and launch a new distribution company, Sémele.
Classicalite wishes these new British and Spanish ventures well.
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