Meridian Records
Encyclopedia
Meridian Records is a British
independent record label
based in London
. It is a long established company having been founded in 1977 and has celebrated 34 years of recording in its reveered classical music
'natural sound'.
Meridian has traditionally specialised in recording relatively unknown works and/or artists at the beginning of their careers. Accordingly, it has played an important part in creating the early reputations of musicians as diverse as The Sixteen
, the clarinetist Anna Hashimoto, the tenor Ian Partridge
, the pianist John Bingham
, The Lindsay Quartet, Onyx Brass, and the organist David Sanger
, among others. Distinguished musicians from all over the globe have recorded on the label including a series of releases by Pianist Fou Ts'ong
("the greatest living chinese performer" according to Timeout magazine), as well as South African virtuoso double-bassist Leon Bosch
- a favourite on Classic FM, BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4.
Meridian has also played a role in educating those who want to get into the classical music recording business, being one of the earliest record labels to pioneer a training and internship scheme at its Greenwich
base.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It is a long established company having been founded in 1977 and has celebrated 34 years of recording in its reveered classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
'natural sound'.
Meridian has traditionally specialised in recording relatively unknown works and/or artists at the beginning of their careers. Accordingly, it has played an important part in creating the early reputations of musicians as diverse as The Sixteen
The Sixteen
The Sixteen are a choir and period instrument orchestra; founded by Harry Christophers in 1979.The group's special reputation for performing early English polyphony, masterpieces of the Renaissance, bringing fresh insights into Baroque and early Classical music and a diversity of 20th century...
, the clarinetist Anna Hashimoto, the tenor Ian Partridge
Ian Partridge
Ian Partridge CBE is a retired English lyric tenor, whose repertoire ranged from Monteverdi, Bach and Handel, the Elizabethan lute songs, German, French and English songs, through to Schoenberg, Weill and Britten, and on to contemporary works. He formed a renowned vocal-piano duo with his sister...
, the pianist John Bingham
John Bingham
John Armor Bingham was a Republican congressman from Ohio, America, judge advocate in the trial of the Abraham Lincoln assassination and a prosecutor in the impeachment trials of Andrew Johnson...
, The Lindsay Quartet, Onyx Brass, and the organist David Sanger
David Sanger
David Sanger is the name of:* David Sanger * David Sanger * David E. Sanger , White House correspondent for The New York Times...
, among others. Distinguished musicians from all over the globe have recorded on the label including a series of releases by Pianist Fou Ts'ong
Fou Ts'ong
Fou Ts'ong is a Chinese pianist.Born in Shanghai to a family of intellectuals , Fou first studied piano with Mario Paci, the Italian founder of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra...
("the greatest living chinese performer" according to Timeout magazine), as well as South African virtuoso double-bassist Leon Bosch
Leon Bosch
Leon Bosch is a virtuoso double bassist acknowledged to be one of the most influential players of his generation and is particularly known for his expressive bel canto style...
- a favourite on Classic FM, BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4.
Meridian has also played a role in educating those who want to get into the classical music recording business, being one of the earliest record labels to pioneer a training and internship scheme at its Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
base.