Welcome!

Musical Concepts aims to bring to the public exceptional value with a select line of high-quality classical repertoire carefully chosen from the vast array of first class recordings in existence. In addition to reissuing urgently worthy titles, Musical Concepts is also engaged in producing new repertoire with a new dimension.

Our acclaimed releases to date include a trio of DVDs called Karaoke Opera which present opera highlights in a self-described new way, ideal for students and designed to bring the opera singer out in all of us!

New for 2010

Musical Concepts MC-104 — Michael Hersch: Sonatas for Unaccompanied Cello --Sonatas for Unaccompanied CelloMichael Hersch: Sonatas for Unaccompanied Cello
-- Daniel Gaisford

This disc is the first in an ambitious three-part series surveying Michael Hersch's complete solo works for strings. The current recording focuses on the demanding early sonatas for unaccompanied cello, both of which were written while the composer was still in his twenties. The second installment, to be released in 2010, will feature his music for violin, performed by violinist Miranda Cuckson. The final installment, scheduled for a 2011 release, will comprise unaccompanied works for double bass and viola. More...

Alto ALC-1033 — Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet / Francesca di Rimini / Capriccio Italien / Eugen Onegin Polonaise --Romeo and Juliet / Francesca di Rimini / Capriccio Italien / Eugen Onegin PolonaiseTchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet / Francesca di Rimini / Capriccio Italien / Polonaise from Eugen Onegin
-- Pavel Kogan / Moscow State Symphony Orchestra

Following on last year's release of Pavel Kogan's acclaimed recordings of the Rachmaninoff symphonies, Alto is pleased to release his thrilling recordings of four Tchaikovsky favorites. More...

Alto ALC-1060 — Monteverdi: Duets and Solos --Duets and SolosMonteverdi: Duets and Solos
-- Emma Kirkby / Evelyn Tubb / Anthony Rooley / The Consort of Musicke

This essential Monteverdi disc, first released in 1993 to unanimous critical acclaim, returns on Alto. More...

Alto ALC-1067 — Shostakovich: Symphony No.5 / "Gadfly" Suite --Symphony No.5 / "Gadfly" SuiteShostakovich: Symphony No.5 / "Gadfly" Suite
-- Maxim Shostakovich / London Symphony Orchestra

This high-octane, unrelentingly impassioned recording of the most popular of Shostakovich's symphonies returns to the catalogue on Alto. More...

Alto ALC-2009 — Verdi: Aida --AidaVerdi: Aida
-- Renata Tebaldi / Carlo Bergonzi / Herbert von Karajan / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

One of the best-selling Verdi operas of all time, featuring two opera superstars at the peak of their careers — newly remastered and available at a value price! More...

Alto ALC-1062 — Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No.2 / Symphony No.15 --Violin Concerto No.2 / Symphony No.15Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No.2 / Symphony No.15
-- David Oistrakh / Kiril Kondrashian / Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra

Two landmark recordings of music by the Soviet Union's greatest composer, together on one disc at a value price. More...

Alto ALC-1063 — Crispain Steele-Perkins — Six Trumpet Concertos --Crispain Steele-Perkins — Six Trumpet ConcertosCrispain Steele-Perkins — Six Trumpet Concertos
-- Crispain Steele-Perkins / Anthony Halstead / English Chamber Orchestra

Concertos by Haydn (both Joseph and Michael), Torelli, Telemann, Humphries, and Neruda, played by Britain's virtuoso master of period trumpets. More...

Alto ALC-1064 — Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique --Symphonie FantastiqueBerlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
-- Sir Charles Mackerras / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Mackerras and the Royal Philharmonic unleash one of the most colorful and dramatic digital-era recordings of Berlioz's most popular work. The CD also includes recordings of the Roman Carnival and Benvenuto Cellini Overture and the "Rákóczy March from The Damnation of Faust conducted by Sir Alexander Gibson and Yuri Simonov. More...

Alto ALC-1065 — Wagner: Orchestral Favorites --Orchestral FavoritesWagner: Orchestral Favorites
-- Yuri Simonov / Philharmonia Orchestra

Dramatic performances of selections from Parsifal, Der Ring des Nibelungen, Tristan und Isolde More...

Alto ALC-2008 — Britten: Peter Grimes --Peter GrimesBritten: Peter Grimes
-- Peter Pears / Benjamin Britten / Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

The definitive recording of Britten's masterpiece, now available at a value price. More...

Alto ALC-2501 — Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro --Le Nozze di FigaroMozart: Le Nozze di Figaro
-- Lisa della Casa / Cesare Siepi / Hilde Gueden / Erich Kleiber / Vienna Philharminoc

The landmark recording of Mozart's comic opera masterpiece, now available at a value price! More...

Musical Concepts MC-106 — Vlado Perlemuter Plays Schumann --Vlado Perlemuter Plays SchumannVlado Perlemuter Plays Schumann
-- Vlado Perlemuter

Legendary recordings from the Vox catalogue, newly remastered from archival materials, showcase the great French pianist in colorful repertoire for which he had a clear affinity. More...

Musical Concepts MC-127 — Guiomar Novaes Plays Schumann --Guiomar Novaes Plays SchumannGuiomar Novaes Plays Schumann
-- Guiomar Novaes

Great recordings from the early years of Vox, newly remastered from archival sources. More...

Musical Concepts MC-125 — Bach: Violin Sonatas --Violin SonatasBach: Violin Sonatas
-- Susanne Lautenbacher / Martib Galling

First CD release! Unavailable for three decades, the complete set of Bach's sonatas for violin and piano performed by Susanne Lautenbacher and Martin Gallling return to the catalog in high-definition remastering. More...

Musical Concepts ALC-1032 — Rachmaninoff: Symphony No.1 / Isle of the Dead --Symphony No.1 / Isle of the DeadRachmaninoff: Symphony No.1 / Isle of the Dead
-- Pavel Kogan / Moscow State Symphony Orchestra

The third disc in Pavel Kogan's spectacular Rachmaninoff symphony cycle. More...

Musical Concepts ALC-1061 — Palestrina: Missa Papae Marcelli / Stabat Mater / Missa l'Homme Armé / Motets --Missa Papae Marcelli / Stabat Mater / Missa l'Homme Armé / MotetsPalestrina: Missa Papae Marcelli / Stabat Mater / Missa l'Homme Armé / Motets
-- Bruno Turner / Mark Brown / Pro Cantione Antiqua

Masterpieces of early polyphony in an atmospheric, beautiful recording as performed by one of the world's great vocal ensembles. More...

Alto ALC-1059 — Vivaldi: 6 Concertos for Flute, Op.10 / Concerto in a minor for Flute, R440 --6 Concertos for Flute, Op.10 / Concerto in a minor for Flute, R440Vivaldi: 6 Concertos for Flute, Op.10 / Concerto in a minor for Flute, R440 -- Jennifer Stinton / Harry Christophers / Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra

The essential Vivaldi flute concertos played by one of the world's finest players. More...

Alfred Deller: The Complete Vanguard Recordings

Alfred Deller, Volume 1
Alfred Deller, Volume 2
Alfred Deller, Volume 3
Alfred Deller, Volume 4
Alfred Deller, Volume 5
Alfred Deller, Volume 6

Now Available

Click here for details on Volume One: Folk Songs and Ballads
Click here for details on Volume Two: Music of Henry Purcell
Click here for details on Volume Three: Christmas Carols and Motets
Click here for details on Volume Four: Music of Handel, Bach and the English Renaissance
Click here for details on Volume Five: Madrigal Masterpieces
Click here for details on Volume Six: Music of the French and Italian Renaissnace
Click here for the Web version of the Bonus CD-ROM
Click here to read the press release (.pdf)

Karaoke Opera

Karaoke Opera on DVD

Out of the shower...
into your living room!
Experience Karaoke Opera!

Details here!

Michael Hersch: The Vanishing Pavilions

Michael Hersch Cover

A Major New Cycle for Solo Piano

The Vanishing Pavilions, a towering solo piano cycle by composer-pianist Michael Hersch that bears comparison to the large-scale works of Olivier Messiaen and Kaikosru Sorabji, is now available on Musical Concepts.

• Click here for more information and reviews.

Best Sellers

Alto ALC-1030 — Rachmaninov: Symphony No.3 / Symphonic Dances – Pavel KoganAlto ALC-1031 — Rachmaninov: Symphony No.2 – Pavel KoganPavel Kogan Conducts Sergei Rachmaninov

First CD release! Alto is pleased to present Pavel Kogan's cycle of the Rachmaninov Symphonies. Two releases are presently available: Symphony No.3 and the Symphonic Dances (click here for details) and Symphony No.2 and the famous Vocalise (click here for details).

ALC1024 – Myaskovsky Volume 14Nikolai Myaskovsky: Complete Symphonic Works, Volumes 10-17

Russian Federation Academic Symphony Orchestra / Evgeny Svetlanov, conductor

In partnership with UK-based independent label Olympia, Alto is pleased to complete the authorized release of the first complete recorded retrospective of Soviet composer Nikolai Myaskovsky's complete orchestral works, one of the last great recording projects undertaken by Russian conductor Evgeny Svetlanov prior to his death. The final seven volumes are now available! Click for more information on volumes: 11  • 12  • 13 •  14 •  15 •  16 •  17

ALC2005 – Handel: TheodoraHandel: Theodora

Heather Harper / Maureen Forrester / Maureen Lehane / Alexander Young / Amor Artis Chorale / English Chamber Orchestra / Johannes Somary, conductor

A classic Handel recording from the Vanguard Classics archive returns to the catalogue on Alto. More...

MC123 – The Art of Paula RobisonThe Art of Paula Robison

Paula Robison is “[a] rare artist who can make the flute sound both sensuous and classically pure … An absolute wonder.” — The New York Times
More...

ALC1016 – Brendel Plays BeethovenAlfred Brendel

The classic Vox recordings of the grrreat Beethoven Sonatas – newly remastered using JVC's K2 technology! More...
Also available: classic recordings of Schubert and Schumann.

ALC1014 – Baroque Bohemia & Beyond: Sinfonias by Josef Myslivecek, Jan Adam Gallina, Josef Bárta, Jan Ventand Josef FialaBaroque Bohemia & Beyond

Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra / Zdeněk Adam, artistic director / Vojtěch Spurný, conductor & harpsichord

Four volumes of music from the late Baroque — and dawn of what came to be known as the "Classical style."
Volume 1: Benda, Bárta, Richter, Stamic, Vaňhal
Volume 2: Vaňhal, Dušek, Brixi, Vranický
Volume 3: Linek, Koželuh, Brixi, Rejcha
Volume 4: Sinfonias by Josef Myslivecek, Jan Adam Gallina, Josef Bárta, Jan Vent and Josef Fiala

ALC1015 – Music for Tudor KingsMusic for Tudor Kings

The Hilliard Ensemble / New London Consort

These recordings were among the very first to be made by one of the world’s most successful vocal groups: The Hilliard Ensemble.

Click here for details.

MC122 – Peter Serkin Plays Beethovenludwig van beethoven : the six last piano sonatas
peter serkin

Performed on a restored Conrad Graf pianoforte — the complete, long-sought-after Pro Arte recordings from the 1980s are available again!
Click here for details.

ALC1010 - Sonatas with RichterSonatas with Richter

Brahms: Violin Sonata No.1 (with Oleg Kagan, violin) • Haydn: Piano Sonata No.39 • Mozart: Violin Sonata K378 (with Oleg Kagan, violin)

Three sought-after recordings by the legendary Sviatoslav Richter, two with one of his favorite artistic collaborators, violinist Oleg Kaganavailable again! Click here for details.

MC141 – Perlemuter Plays MozartMozart: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Vlado Perlemuter

The legendary 1956 VOX recordings — available again!
Click here for details.