About Us

ARTS was established in 1993. Since then we have released more than 6,500 tracks on over 400 titles of classical music from five centuries (from medieval to music of our time), the greatest artists of the last decades as well as very promising young artists who have not yet reached the zenith of their careers. The musical styles reach from Sacred to Opera, Chamber Music to Symphonic, Lied to Operetta. The greatest works of composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Wagner as well as rarities from Rossini, Verdi, and Händel are part of our catalogue.

ARTS’ exclusive recordings distinguish themselves not only by the presence of selected contents, acclaimed artists and young talents, but also by the best digital technique, and the outstanding artwork of the booklets with texts in four or five languages.

Every year, 25 to 30 new titles are being added on CD, Hybrid SACD, DVD-Video or DVD-Audio, which are also regularly acclaimed by the national and international press.

With this powerful artistic background, we managed to not only establish a worldwide distribution network, but also a global renown closely related to the brand, which is the highest obtainable value.

Why choose ARTS?

A remarkable number of ARTS catalogue recordings have been distinguished with critical claim. ARTS presents classical recordings of the highest artistic and sound quality with artists like Fassbaender, Freni, Gage, Kempe, Kubelik, Popp, Prey, Wunderlich as well as Caetani, Dantone, Fasolis, Maag, Penderecki, Sawallisch, Scimone and many more; and orchestras such as Accademia Bizantina, Bamberger Symphoniker, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Münchner Philharmoniker, Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano etc…

You will find complete collections such as all of Beethoven’s symphonies, the chamber music of Strauss, the piano music of John Field, the piano concertos of Paisiello as well as operas such as Wagner’s Parsifal and Meistersinger, Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, Donizetti’s Linda di Chamounix, Bertoni’s Orfeo, Paisiello’s Nina, Eugene d’Albert’s Tiefland and many more.

The ARTS product lines:

ARTS offers the following very successful product lines:

• ARCHIVES: These are legendary recordings, which are between 10 and 50 years old, and which we release in co-production with big European radio stations with an unmatched audiophile 24 bit / 96 kHz re-mastering. Included are treasures by conductors such as Rafael Kubelik, Rudolf Kempe, Peter Maag or singers like Fritz Wunderlich, Kurt Moll, James King, Lucia Popp, Yvonne Minton … [moderate price]
• BLUE LINE: With a state-of-the-art recording technique, breathtakingly clear 24 Bit / 96 kHz crystal sound, paired with rarely recorded and a highly popular repertoire, ARTS releases music by composers such as Shostakovich, Guilmant, Rossini, … [moderate price]
• RED LINE: These recordings can be compared artistically with all other lines. The only difference is the recording technique because 24 Bit / 96 kHz did not exist yet at the time. Concequently, we decided to integrate these titles in a budget line - the Red Line. [highest quality for lowest price]
• AUTHENTIC: Both in the Red as well as the Blue line, ARTS offers “Authentic” recordings on period instruments. These are philological performances, including first ever digital recordings such as Peri’s Euridice, the original Carmina Burana or unpublished masterpieces as well as Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and more.
• Hybrid SACD: Audiophile sound - plays on all standard CD and SACD players, offering stereo on CD player and multichannel in high resolution 24 bit / 96 kHz sound on a SACD player - DSD - high quality product - comparable to a full price CD.
• DVD-VIDEO LINE: Early on, ARTS recognized the potential of musical arrangements on DVD. Audiophile sound, plays on all DVD video players, multichannel and stereo in high resolution 24 bit/96 kHz sound, full video of concert performances, live recordings etc., recorded at impressive locations with digital high resolution cameras.
• DVD-AUDIO LINE: Audiophile sound - plays on all DVD Audio and Video players, offers multichannel and stereo in high resolution 24 bit/96 kHz sound on a DVD-A player [competitive price point - comparable to a full price CD]
• ARTS CROSSING: Jazz, Tangos, Spirituals & others, state-of-the-art recording technique, excellent performances, breathtakingly clear 24 bit / 96 kHz crystal sound [moderate price]
• ARTS COLLECTORS: The concept to sell music in designer tins is an unmatched idea with worldwide success. Thanks to the unique co-operation with the company BRISA, the only manufacturer of such items, ARTS is the only classical label which offers parts of its repertoire in this absolutely innovative and copyrighted form. [highest quality for moderate price]

All of our titles are elaborately designed and have a booklet in four languages.

About the ARTS’ Artwork …

No labels in the same price category can meet ARTS’ quality in the artwork. Carefully produced booklets and a studied design have won ARTS worldwide recognition: The Museum Of Modern Art in New York (the famous MoMA) chose an ARTS product as first CD to be presented in the permanent collection (ARTS 47135-2 - Contempoartensemble play music by Berio, Xenakis, Sciarrino, with the cover artwork especially created by the famous American artist Sol LeWitt). A limited edition in a metal square can is available of selected ARTS references with special cover designed by famous artists (Sol LeWitt, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Jean Michel Folon, Gerhard Richter, Daniel Buren, Dani Karavan) and with an original serigraph authorised by the artist.

Our rich catalogue enables us to produce any kind of compilation, from soft and sweet sounds for a “Candlelight Dinner “ to deeply moving choirs for a “Family-Christmas“. There are no borders to creativity.

ARTS belongs to the very few worldwide active classical labels, who continuously strengthens its market position with the regular release of yearly several dozens new and exciting recordings as well as treasures from radio archives.

We’d be delighted to send you a catalogue.