by David Rowe
This is the second of three articles, in which collector of classical CDs and trusted reviewer David Rowe of davidsclassicalcds.com discusses the current state of classical music on compact disc.
The Covid-19 pandemic seriously hampered the recording industry. During the lockdowns, most recording projects came to a halt for all the reasons one can imagine. In particular, the embattled CD format took a further beating. Several factors inherent specifically to classical music were especially disastrous for classical recordings:
- International travel, which is an integral part of life for many classical musicians, soloists and conductors alike, became next to impossible during the lockdown.
- The very nature of playing in ensembles became infeasible with social distancing requirements. And it was impossible for wind players to perform with masks.
- Concert venues were shuttered, which prevented live performances. Thus, most orchestras and chamber groups were forced to go on hiatus or get creative.
Subsequently, new recordings on compact disc screeched to a halt.
Out of desperation, classical musicians and record producers were forced to find innovative ways to record and release new projects. For example, the pandemic inspired a surge in recordings of solo and small string ensemble music. As a music lover, this gave me the opportunity to focus my attention on sonatas and solo piano music, among a host of other forms. Fortunately, most labels are getting back to recording large-scale classical music again featuring full orchestras, and the number of new releases continues to increase.
Artists also experimented with creative new ways to use virtual technology to connect with their audiences. For example, the documentary Igor Levit – No Fear chronicles the German pianist’s hauskonzerte (house concerts) series, in which he live-streamed from his apartment in Berlin every evening. These were “private” sessions in which he played everything from Joplin and Gershwin to Bach and Liszt.
Read our review of Igor Levit – No Fear here.
As the pandemic dissipates, the classical music industry continues to recover. While new releases are flourishing again, I am concerned that creative approaches such as Igor Levit’s have accelerated the transition to digital downloads and streaming options. YouTube in particular features solo recitals, chamber music videos, and even complete orchestral seasons, such as those shared by the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra. These YouTube videos are terrific, with extremely high-quality audio and video, but they do pose a threat to classical CD collectors.
Many labels are now promoting their own streaming services with virtually no marketing of a corresponding CD release. When a CD version is made available, there is the troubling trend toward the release of digital downloads before the official CD release date – often at a substantially reduced price compared to the CD. This further entices collectors to buy the download early rather than waiting for the CD. These initiatives threaten to further marginalize classical music on compact disc.
The pandemic has changed our global culture in profound ways, and classical music was certainly not immune. While I’m happy that new recordings are once again proliferating, I’m concerned for CD collectors that, in its wake, labels will continue to push web-based formats.
Check out David’s outstanding reviews on DavidsClassicalCDs.com
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