Chandos Records: Difference between revisions

| founded = {{start date|df=yes|1979}}

'''Chandos Records''' is a British independent [[European classical music|classical music]] recording company based in [[Colchester]]. It was founded in 1979 by [[Brian Couzens]].<ref name="Gram1999">Cutts P. For the record : Steering clear of the mainstream. ''[[Gramophone (magazine)|Gramophone]]'', October 1999, p16. http://www.gramophone.net/Issue/Page/October%201999/16/786570/] {{dead link|fix-attempted=yes|date=April 2020}}</ref><ref name="Gram1989">Jolly{{Cite Jweb|url=http://www. Chandos at 10gramophone. ''Gramophone'', net/Issue/Page/May 1989, p12%201989/12/789500/CHANDOS+AT+10+lig|title=CHANDOS|page=12|archive-url=https://web. archive.org/web/20101007162716/http://www.gramophone.net/Issue/Page/May%201989/12/789500/CHANDOS+AT+10+lig|access-date=31 August 2020|archive-date=7 October 2010}}</ref> Since March 2024, it has been owned by [[Klaus Heymann]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://operawire.com/naxos-founder-acquires-chandos-records/|title=Naxos Founder Acquires Chandos Records

Chandos Records arose from a band music publisher Chandos Music, founded in 1963, and Chandos Productions, a record production company which produced LPs for Classics for Pleasure, and, especially, [[RCA Records|RCA]]'s work in the UK.<ref name="CRC" /> Its first record was Bloch's Sacred Service (ABR1001). Important early recordings were made with Mariss Jansons, Nigel Kennedy and the King's Singers – before they moved to bigger contracts with EMI.<ref name="CRC">Anderson C. "Thirty years of Chandos. Ralph and Brian Couzens talk about the history of their company:". ''[[Classic Record Collector]]'', Winter 2008, 39-4239–42.</ref>

In 2005, Chandos Records was the first classical label to offer mp3s on its website. They now run The Classical Shop with over 45 labels on offer, including Naxos, LSO Live, Coro, Avie, Onyx, Alpha and many rarer European labels, which are not available in physical format in the UK.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

The Chandos catalogue contains a range of classical music -– for example, much orchestral, [[choir|choral]] and [[chamber music]] by such lesser-known British composers as [[Herbert Howells]], [[Gerald Finzi]], [[Charles Villiers Stanford]] and [[Arnold Bax]], conducted by eminent conductors including [[Richard Hickox]], [[Gianandrea Noseda]], [[Neeme Järvi]] and [[Vernon Handley]]. They also specialise in [[early music]], on their label Chaconne, with performances by artists such as the [[Purcell Quartet]], [[Collegium Musicum 90]] and Sophie Yates. Chandos is also known for its Movies series, preserving previously lost film scores. In 1990 they launched the Opera in English label, in association with the Peter Moores Foundation,<ref name="Gram1999" /> which has resulted in over 80 recordings.

* Complete symphonies of Alwyn, Vaughan Williams, Mahler, Arnold, Shostakovich, Bax

* Tone poems of Liszt

* Film Music series includes: Arnold, Shostakovich, Vaughan Willams, Bax, Korngold, Coates, Addinsell, Addison

Recordings released by Chandos have won many awards including '"Gramophone Record of the Year'" for [[Ralph Vaughan Williams|Vaughan Williams's]] ''[[A London Symphony]]'' with the [[London Symphony Orchestra]], and '"Gramophone Choral Recording of the Year'" for [[Johann Nepomuk Hummel|Hummel]] Masses. InChandos 2008recordings theyhave received twofive Grammys[[Grammy forAwards]]: '"Best Opera Recording" in 1997 for [[Benjamin Britten|Britten's]] ''[[Peter Grimes]]'' and in 2008 for [[Engelbert Humperdinck (composer)|Engelbert Humperdinck's]] ''[[Hansel and Gretel (opera)|Hansel and Gretel]]'', "Best Engineered Classical Album" in 2008 for [[Alexander Gretchaninov|Gretchaninov's]] "Passion Week" and in 2013 for "Life and Breath" by the [[Kansas City Chorale]], and "Best Choral Performance" for "Life and Breath."<ref name="Ipsw2013">Stott M. Colchester. [http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/colchester_double_grammy_win_for_classical_music_record_label_chandos_1_1936865Double Grammy win for classical music record label Chandos]. ''[[Ipswich Star]]'', 18 February 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=British Indie Chandos Marks 20 Years of Sonic Vision |date=17 July 1999 |publisher=Billboard |page=55 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kAgEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Chandos+Records%22&pg=PA55 |language=en}}</ref>

Soloists and conductors who have recorded for the label include Sir [[Charles Mackerras]], Rebecca Evans, [[Jennifer Larmore]], [[Julian Lloyd Webber]], Sir [[Thomas Allen (baritone)|Thomas Allen]], [[Alan Opie]], [[Tasmin Little]], Bruce Ford, Barry Banks, [[Christine Brewer]], Lesley Garrett, [[Horacio Gutiérrez]], [[Neeme JarviJärvi]], and [[Simon Keenlyside]], [[Hideko Udagawa]], [[Alexandre Naoumenko]] and [[Safri Duo]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Chandos Records Ltd |url=https://www.discogs.com/label/268945-Chandos-Records-Ltd |website=Discogs |language=en}}</ref>

They have an exclusive recording partnershippartnerships with, among others, the [[BBC Philharmonic Orchestra]], and pianists [[Jean-Efflam Bavouzet]] and [[Louis Lortie]]. The late conductor [[Richard Hickox]] was (many times a Gramophone winner with Chandos recordings) and pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet.

[[Category:Companies based in EssexColchester]]