What happened to Dutton Vocalion?

kyjo · November 29, 2020, 07:53:53 PM

Dutton Vocalion always used to issue a steady stream of new recordings of neglected music - mostly British at first, but they eventually started a wonderful International series from which I've made some wonderful discoveries (Damase, etc.). Nowadays, they barely seem to be issuing any new classical recordings (plenty of non-classical it seems, judging from their website). I've really missed their valuable releases. Anyone know what's going on with them?

vandermolen · November 30, 2020, 07:25:18 AM

Quote from: kyjo on November 29, 2020, 07:53:53 PM
Dutton Vocalion always used to issue a steady stream of new recordings of neglected music - mostly British at first, but they eventually started a wonderful International series from which I've made some wonderful discoveries (Damase, etc.). Nowadays, they barely seem to be issuing any new classical recordings (plenty of non-classical it seems, judging from their website). I've really missed their valuable releases. Anyone know what's going on with them?

Maybe due to the pandemic Kyle. I hope that they pick up again soon.

kyjo · November 30, 2020, 08:00:26 PM

Quote from: vandermolen on November 30, 2020, 07:25:18 AM
Maybe due to the pandemic Kyle. I hope that they pick up again soon.

Good point, Jeffrey, although I noticed a significant drop-off in their production quite a while before the pandemic started.

vandermolen · November 30, 2020, 11:44:46 PM

Quote from: kyjo on November 30, 2020, 08:00:26 PM
Good point, Jeffrey, although I noticed a significant drop-off in their production quite a while before the pandemic started.

Also a good point Kyle.
They are a small company and they may struggle anyway. I wonder how many people, for example, bought their Stanley Bate and Richard Arnell recordings (wonderful though they are)?
I just bought a re-mastered Charles Gerhardt, Humphrey Bogart film score compilation from them:

Daverz · December 01, 2020, 02:11:16 AM

Their CDs are often priced well over my impulse purchase threshold. I did buy a couple of the Bate/Arnell CDs, probably when they were on sale.

Roy Bland · December 02, 2020, 05:48:35 PM

IMHO essential

Irons · December 03, 2020, 01:47:17 PM

I listened this evening to Rubbra's 1st Quartet and Bate's 3rd Symphony. In fact the Rubbra I played twice, either side of the Bate.

vandermolen · December 04, 2020, 01:00:23 AM

Quote from: Roy Bland on December 02, 2020, 05:48:35 PM
IMHO essential

Totally agree and would add Bate's 3rd and 4th symphonies and Arnell's Nos.3 and 5.

vandermolen · December 04, 2020, 01:01:09 AM

Quote from: Irons on December 03, 2020, 01:47:17 PM
I listened this evening to Rubbra's 1st Quartet and Bate's 3rd Symphony. In fact the Rubbra I played twice, either side of the Bate.

Two fine discs.