One label takes over the entire classical top 10

One label takes over the entire classical top 10

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norman lebrecht

November 18, 2017

This is the new UK classical chart.

All 10 entrants are from Decca.

 

Top 10 Classical Artist Albums Chart

  1. ALED JONES: ONE VOICE – BELIEVE
  2. LUDOVICO EINAUDI: ISLANDS – ESSENTIAL EINAUDI
  3. CECILIA BARTOLI & SOL GABETTA: DOLCE DUELLO
  4. THE AYOUB SISTERS: THE AYOUB SISTERS
  5. ANDRE RIEU: BEST OF CHRISTMAS
  6. ALED JONES: ONE VOICE AT CHRISTMAS
  7. ANDRE RIEU: DECEMBER LIGHTS
  8. LUDOVICO EINAUDI: ELEMENTS
  9. GARETH MALONE: A GREAT BRITISH CHRISTMAS
  10. KARL JENKINS: SYMPHONIC ADIEMUS

A dozen years ago, only one of these records would have classified as classical.

Comments

  • Olassus says:

    Junk.

    • ftumschk . says:

      I’m not sure if it’s all junk to be fair but, apart from Bartoli and Gabetta, it’s certainly more easy-listening than “classical”. Perhaps there should be a separate easy-listening chart?

      • V. Lind says:

        Always has been. Populated by the likes of Michael Bolton, Debbie Boone, etc. You may or may not like what they do, but they are not trying to pass themselves off as classical singers.

  • John Borstlap says:

    Since humanity’s sophistication consists of a pyramid, appreciation of quality arts cannot be measured by number. Classical music charts are therefore meaningless, they merely scrape the bottom of the barrel.

  • Ungeheuer says:

    Sad

  • Dave says:

    I’d expect the victims of most of these not to know what “classical” means – if it means anything nowadays – but not the industry “experts”.

    But it usually takes sales in three figures to put you near the top of this list. Meaningless.

  • Tommy says:

    I don’t think the charts that NL on and off presents are representative of how the classical music industry is doing in the marketplace. The following charts are much better but of course not comprehensive! Perhaps publishing charts from market places like Qobuz, Tidal, Spotify are more representative… (?).

    Downloads
    1. Cecilia Bartoli Cecilia & Sol – Dolce Duello
    2. Anne-Sophie Mutter Schubert: Forellenquintett – Trout Quintet
    3. Michael Tilson Thomas Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1-4
    4. Sabine Devieilhe Mirages
    5. Giovanni Antonini Haydn 2032 – Vol. 5: L’Homme de génie
    6. Iván Fischer Mahler : Symphony No. 3
    7. Rachel Podger Johann Sebastian Bach : Double & Triple Concertos
    8. Denis Matsuev Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2 / Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 2
    9. Rachel Podger Vivaldi: 12 Concertos, Op. 3 L’Estro Armonico
    10. Ottavio Dantone Bach: The Art of Fugue

    Streaming
    1. Anne-Sophie Mutter Schubert: Forellenquintett – Trout Quintet
    2. Cecilia Bartoli Cecilia & Sol – Dolce Duello
    3. Bertrand Chamayou Debussy: Sonatas and Piano Trio
    4. Nevermind Telemann: Quatuors Parisiens
    5. René Jacobs Mozart: Requiem, K. 626 (Süssmayr – Dutron 2016 Completion)
    6. Ottavio Dantone Bach: The Art of Fugue
    7. Multi Interpretes Les 100 chefs-d’oeuvre de la musique Classique (DGG)
    8. Florian Rago Solo Violin
    9. Daniil Trifonov Chopin Evocations
    10. Dorothee Oberlinger Bach – Small Gifts

    It’s from Qobuz this week. No physical sales here. But Qobuz have the “classical” classification in better shape. I’d say about half of these are to my liking and well above average in terms of playing/interpretation qualities as far as I can judge. The shape of this industry is much better than this site gives hints of. Add the great independents like BIS, Channel, HM and a couple of artist and orchestra labels, some of these releasing more “new!” releases per month than each of Universal/Sony/Warner.

    For the past 2-3 years Decca and most of all DGG always seem to have top recordings in these charts.

    If posts like this are unwanted it’s fine with me to remove it!

    • Tommy says:

      Some copy/paste mistakes made the last paragraphs a bit… hmmm… unclear in its message.

      But I meant to say a fair number of real classical releases are still produces each month, and year after year. Both majors and independents still manage to sell these. Shrinking physical sales but a growing streaming/DL market makes the latter more interesting for understanding sales and growth.

  • Jackyt says:

    You say all titles are Decca. I wonder if this dumbing down of Decca might offer a partial explanation as to why first Kaufmann, and more recently Florez (with his exquisite Mozart cd), should have left Decca for Sony?

  • Mike says:

    Ludovico Einaudi and Andre Rieu?

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