Label news2: Alpha lands star debut
NewsThe French-Belgian Alpha Classics label has signed a recording contract with the fastest-rising opera soprano, Asmik Grigorian.
Her debut, out soon, is a set of Rachmaninov songs, partnered by the Russian-Lithuanian pianist, Lukas Geniušas.
The major labels must have been asleep on the job.
Alpha IS a major label, thanks to its excellent choice of repertoire and artists.
I agree – i don’t see how Lebrecht doesn’t consider Alpha as a major label?
– the enormous Antonini Haydn project
– Soprano Jodie Devos
– Barbara Hannigan
– Patricia Kopantchinskaya
– Paavo Jarvi
– Nicolas Alstaedt
– Nelson Governor
– Amihai Grosz
And the list goes on and on…
NL has debated before on this site about what constitutes a ‘major’ label – Decca, DG, Warner might qualify; Hyperion (chosen at random) might not. Not sure I would agree; it seems a quite out-dated view of the industry.
ooohhhhh yes…. looking forward to reviewing this release
What is in our time a “major label” ? Would Grigorian be better recorded and distributed with let’s say DG instead of alpha ? Would she be more widely available or better paid ? Not so sure these days.
Much will depend on what kind of exclusivity she signed. Will the contract with alpha prevent her from e.g. recording a disc with the Berlin Philharmonic for DG ?