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Mon, 22 Nov 1999 15:42:15 -0800 |
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Periodically I check the HNH web site for information on new releases
from Naxos and Marco Polo. As Klaus says in his intro to the Naxos
2000 catalog: "... most of our major competitors focus on crossover
programmes, theme compilations and a handful of marketable stars. Most no
longer undertake long-term recording projects or invest money in developing
new, promising artists by assigning important projects to them." So, it's
not surprise that so many have come to anticipate new releases from HNH.
I've been a huge fan of Marco Polo since they first started coming out (way
back in the Records International days), so I track their new releases
fairly closely.
I have noticed a trend, or perhaps a conscious strategy, in the latest
catalogs. While I only have anecdotal evidence for this, it seems that
Marco Polo is becoming more focussed on their Chinese music series, and
20th century composers. Naxos now seems to be the place where they release
works by more mainstream compsoers (however unknown they might be), and
this seems to include an increasing number of MP re-issues on Naxos (Foote
chamber music, for example). In the latest MP catalog, I notice the only
19th century composers with new releases are Louis Glass and Ludolf Neilson
(on Da Capo, actually), and a single British Light Classics release. All
the rest (and there aren't that many upcoming MP releases) are either
Chinese music or music living composers.
As far as I'm concerned, this is probably a shrew move, and I certainly
like the Naxos prices better. I do worry a bit about some of the series
that have been going on for a number of years, such as the string quartets
of Louis Spohr. Anyone have any more detailed info?
Dave
[log in to unmask]
http://www.classical.net/
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