Onyx Classics was started in 2005 by Chris Craker and Paul Moseley and since 2006 has been wholly owned by Paul Moseley. Matthew Cosgrove was appointed General Manager in 2009. Matthew was for many years Director of Warner Classics International and later Vice President of Artists & Repertoire at Deutsche Grammophon (matthew.cosgrove@onyxclassics.com)
Onyx Classics is a premium quality artist-led label that keeps its catalogue focussed on quality rather than quantity, with around 12–15 new releases per year. We primarily record classical artists who already have world-wide profiles, many of whom had previous recording contracts with the ‘major’ labels, and who now wish to take more control of their recording careers. Onyx’s relationships with artists are true collaborations, enabling them to choose, over and above their music-making of course, how much ownership, control and involvement in the project they want. We don’t insist on exclusivity, preferring a good relationship to develop based on results, not promises. We make decisions quickly and stick to them. Because we keep overheads and costs to a minimum, we can green-light ideas that many other labels would reject. Onyx also works occasionally with outstanding new artists whose careers are on a steep trajectory, backed by good international management and with a healthy global concert diary.
If there is a story about a recording then all the better: for example inaugural artist Viktoria Mullova’s first recordings on baroque violin or her unique collaboration with Arvo Pärt; or the first complete Debussy cycle by French stylist Pascal Rogé. A very strong relationship with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra has developed, whether with chief conductor Vasily Petrenko in award- winning cycles of Tchaikovsky, Elgar and Stravinsky, or in the acclaimed Vaughan Williams symphony cycle under Andrew Manze. Similarly, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Kirill Karabits have made an outstanding cycle of the complete Prokofiev Symphonies which also includes world premiere recordings. Pianist Dejan Lazić explores Beethoven’s connections with London in a fascinating album of Beethoven’s piano arrangement of the violin concerto, and sonatas by two of his associates, London-based composers Clementi and Cramer. Staying with Beethoven, violinist James Ehnes and pianist Andrew Armstrong have made what is probably the best Violin Sonata cycle of recent years. And of course there is the extraordinary Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra and Sascha Goetzel with their original and creatively-curated orchestral programmes. Add to the mix superb recordings from artists of the calibre and renown of Midori, Susan Graham, Vadim Repin, Stephen Kovacevich, Augustin Dumay and Maria Joao Pires, and these are the standards we wish to maintain – records that deserve to be made by artists who deserve to be heard.
You can purchase Onyx CDs direct from this site for delivery worldwide in any of five currencies. Our CDs and Hi-resolution downloads can be purchased from traditional record stores or from mail order companies like Amazon, Presto Classical and JPC. Onyx recordings are also available on all major streaming services such as Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Qobuz, IDAGIO and Primephonic.