“2008 was a good year for Audite. One notable highlight, amongst many other releases, was the spectacular discovery of Porgy and Bess: the German première of this Gershwin opera was recorded in 1952 amidst the wreckage of post-war Berlin. The audio tapes remained untouched and uncatalogued for over 40 years in the archives of the former RIAS. The discovery was only made possible as a result of intensive research as well as through the close and long-term relationship that we enjoy with our partners at the radio and the archives. Apart from such highlights, Audite deliberately issues diverse recordings, the common ground of which lies in the striking intensity of their interpretation. This subjective criterion is the musical and focal core of the label. It is the combination of the personal dedication of its personnel, the unusually slimline company structure and the international bias which have taken audite forward for many years. I therefore have no worries about the future: we hope you will join us in looking forward to another year full of discoveries!” Ludger Bockenhoff
The audiophile label audite has developed into a highly regarded address in the classical scene during the past few years.The professional press has bestowed the highest praise on Rafael Kubelik's Mahler cycle with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, as well as on the rediscovery of the composer Eduard Franck. Besides these series, which are being continued, we commit ourselves to first-class artists, unusual repertoire and audiophile quality. Sound engineer Ludger Böckenhoff is the motor and centre of audite. For many years he worked for companies such as Deutsche Grammophon, Sony and BBC, and is still active today as a producer for other high-standard labels. The close cooperation with a growing nucleus of first-class artists has also arisen out of this activity.This guarantees a clear programming line, consistently high quality and polished productions.The audite programme is based on three pillars - legendary recordings, interesting, at times unusual repertoire and large editions. Each audite production is newly conceived and prepared from the very outset. Each time, we carefully select the best hall, the best instrument and the equipment best suited to this very recording. And this detailed work continues throughout the whole production process right up to the cover design and the writing of the booklet text.The booklet's graphic design is individually matched to the music; the extensive, multi-lingual accompanying texts are written by established experts, but are also comprehensible to the layman.
"All in all, a breath of fresh Moravioan air and a wonderfully civilised alternative to the hi-tech histrionics of today's market leaders." (Gramophone)
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