In 1973 Robert von Bahr founded BIS, with the aim to provide music-lovers with a wider choice of repertoire. At the same time the label offered Swedish and Scandinavian musicians and composers a much-needed opportunity to reach an international audience. Quickly earning a reputation for its state-of-the-art sound reproduction and adventurous programming, BIS soon attracted an increasing number of international performers eager to record for the label, and today the catalogue—which now consists of some 1,800 titles—also includes mainstream repertoire, from Beethoven symphonies to Debussy’s Préludes for piano.
But BIS, still led by its founder, has nevertheless remained faithful to its original credo: few other labels can boast a similar number of world-première recordings, and when BIS releases Bach’s cantatas they are performed by a Japanese period ensemble, while a Dutch fortepianist has recorded the label’s complete cycles of solo keyboard works by Mozart, Haydn and—soon to be completed—Beethoven. Drawing a lance for contemporary composers as diverse as Kalevi Aho and Sebastian Fagerlund (both from Finland), Scottish James MacMillan, and the Australian Brett Dean, the label in recent years also has brought to conclusion an epic Sibelius Edition, containing all the music the composer wrote, in every genre.
Celebrating its 40th anniversary, BIS now puts the spotlight on 40 of its best-selling albums, ranging from the legendary 1980 recording La Spagna—first released as a double-LP but here updated for the 21st century in a Super Audio CD version—to recent, award-winning performances of eternal masterpieces such as Beethoven’s Ninth and Bach’s B minor Mass. And among the 40, as a reminder of just how weird things can get at BIS, there is also the Zappa Album on which a Finnish group of classically trained musicians perform Frank Zappa originals, painstakingly arranged for baroque instruments.
BIS Boss Robert von Bahr’s Personal Message:
If 40 isn’t a magic number, it ought to be. BIS just turned 40 years old, and with that we are possibly the oldest classical record company in the world, led by its founder—me. Inspired by this I have chosen 40 of our real best-sellers over the years, making them available at 40 percent discount (if we keep that up, we can’t afford to become much older…) in all available formats starting October 16 and going on until year-end, when the prices will go up to normal again. At the end of this press release you’ll find a link to the 40-year Anniversary Brochure, which presents the 40 CDs/SACDs, and includes links to each album.
As an appetizer, as well as a “label self-portrait”, I have also selected one track from each disc for a digital-only compilation. Together they form a musical journey that will take you to known and loved places, but also to little-known corners of the musical landscape: from Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” to Baadsvik’s “Fnugg” for solo tuba (a work not to be missed); from Handel’s “Ombra mai fu” to Pärt’s “Spiegel in Spiegel”, one of the most beloved pieces in “modern” music! The compilation is 3 hours and 40 minutes long and I can guarantee you that it is very rewarding, especially at the low-low price of $ 7.99 (a 75% discount on our already low regular prices).
Here’s a link to “BIS 40”:
http://www.eclassical.com/labels/bis/bis-40th-anniversary-digital-album-bundle.html?cache=purge
So come celebrate with us – warmly welcome – Robert
Link to the 40 discs:
