ClassicsToday.com has pledged itself to review the widest range of important releases the world over. Unfortunately, this means that sometimes a title may not be available in the United States, and some domestic items might be hard to find overseas. The problem afflicts the so-called major labels most seriously, which is ironic because these are precisely the organizations with the best channels of both domestic and international distribution. The cost of maintaining these networks is high, however, and major labels sometimes feel that anticipated sales of a new classical recording (often less than 5000 copies per title worldwide) do not justify the inventory/distribution expense. Why they then bother to continue making expensive recordings that they cannot sell internationally is a question that classical music insiders have been asking for years, but that's the way it is! The result is a market for "imports," meaning titles either imported directly from Europe (or less frequently Japan) by individual domestic retailers, or which you can order yourself from overseas. Most readers will be well aware of local or on-line CD sources. We also suggest that you consider the following companies, with which we have no financial relationship, in order to expand your purchase options even further.

---

BMG Record Club is America's largest, most popular, and most complete source of direct mail classical music CDs. The BMG Classical Music library offers you the thousands of recordings by the finest artists, including Yo-Yo Ma, Cecilia Bartoli and Leonard Bernstein, on the most prestigious labels, such as Sony Classical, Deutsche Grammophon, Harmonia Mundi, Hyperion, Decca, RCA Red Seal and many others, often at prices that you will find hard to beat anywhere. If you join now, you can select 12 CDs for the price of 1, with no obligation to purchase additional product, ever. You can even take up to 12 months to buy just 1 CD at the regular Club price. At BMG Classical Music Club, in addition to the finest collection of classical music, you'll also find the best in jazz, pop, light sounds, Broadway and movie soundtracks and more. Join by clicking on the BMG logo above!

---

JPC is Germany's largest CD mail-order service. They offer a complete line of classical CDs, many of which are unavailable in the United States. Also, their on-line services in English are easy to use and generally well translated. Please bear in mind that shipping costs from Germany can be high, so it's best to order several discs and spread the cost around.

---

For the internet's most complete concert calendar, and to purchase event tickets, click here:

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE