Opera Rara named Gramophone’s Label of the Year 2024
Opera Rara was tonight announced as Gramophone’s Label of the Year 2024. Previous winners in this category include BIS, Deutsche Grammophon, Alpha Classics, Pentatone and Harmonia Mundi.
Martin Cullingford, Gramophone’s Editor stated: “There’s something unique about this year’s Label of the Year. Most recipients of this annual accolade are variations on the form of a company offering a recording home to artists, nurturing and supporting them, and issuing their albums on a regular basis. Opera Rara does that of course, but its primary focus – and that of all the superb artists who show such dedication to this cherished company in this mission – is the championing of forgotten gems from the opera archives, specifically the 19th and earlier 20th centuries…
Project after project, singers as renowned as the soprano Ermonela Jaho and tenor Michael Spyres – both official Artistic Ambassadors for the company – happily learn rare repertoire for live performance and subsequent sessions (invariably studio, it’s worth noting!) that they know they will rarely, if ever, be asked to perform again. They, like all who work for and support Opera Rara, do so out of an abiding admiration for this marvellous institution – and it’s in the same spirit that we honour them as our 2024 Label of the Year.”
Representing the company at the Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2024 ceremony in London was our Chief Executive Henry Little who said: “Our history goes back 54 years to Opera Rara’s foundation in 1970 by two visionary men: Patric Schmid and Don White. After a chance meeting with Joan Sutherland, their mission of restoring, recording, performing and promoting the great lost and forgotten operas of the 19th and early 20th centuries began. This artistic undertaking has been championed by many great conductors, musicologists, orchestras and singers; their courage and commitment to Opera Rara is exemplary as they learn and perform music that hasn’t been heard sometimes in more than 200 years.”
Our Artistic Director Carlo Rizzi sent a video message from Berlin where he is currently conducting at Deutsche Oper: “It has been one of my greatest honours and artistic achievements to lead Opera Rara as Artistic Director. This award is the culmination of decades of work, with every recording and restoration done with utmost care and incredible passion. Thank you, Gramophone, for this recognition.”
2024 has proven to be quite a year already for us as our list of awards has now grown to include OPER! Awards Best Opera Recording and OPUS KLASSIK Best Opera Recording for Offenbach’s La Princesse de Trébizonde (ORC63). Our latest complete opera recording, Donizetti’s L’esule di Roma (ORC64) conducted by Carlo Rizzi, was also nominated for a 2024 International Opera Award in the CD (Complete Opera) category.
Opera Rara’s work is only made possible by the support of its generous and loyal supporters. If you are interested in making a gift to commemorate this award or are interested in becoming a Friend or Patron of Opera Rara, please donate here.