The collective artistic endeavours of Glossa have recently been recognized with an award of Label of the Year for 2014 by a Europe-wide panel of classical music media organizations – print and online magazines, as well as radio broadcasters – who form the International Classical Music Awards (ICMA) jury. This is to be presented at the Award Ceremony and Gala Concert in the Philharmonic Hall in Warsaw in April 2014.
The Glossa adventure began back in 1992, led by two pioneering Spanish instrumentalists – brothers José Miguel Moreno and Emilio Moreno – who set about creating a treasure trove of recorded excellence, notably in the ever-developing field of “early music”.
To this day, the label remains focused on its artists, supporting their musical journeys and inclinations, with the artistic direction entrusted to Carlos Céster. With a small team around him Céster operates from San Lorenzo de El Escorial, surrounded by the abundant natural riches of the mountains around Madrid and with an austere Monasterio in sight to ever encourage him in the rigour of his work.
For Glossa, the ICMA 2014 Label of the Year award is a welcome honour, reflecting two decades of recording activity (but also a constant determination to achieve editorial excellence – since 2003 the design values of the label have been entrusted to the studio of Valentín Iglesias, Oficina Tresminutos) and celebrates the contributions made by the Glossa family of artists from in and outside Spain, with music from all corners of the continent. Those artistic intentions have been actively supported since 2007 by the independent label’s parent company, Note 1 Music GmbH.
Many members of the family of artists have been associated with the label across the years and have helped make 2013 a highly satisfying cosecha: José Miguel Moreno (returning to the studio with an album of lute music by Johann Gottfried Conradi), Fabio Bonizzoni with more Handel, Hervé Niquet with Louis Le Prince and Vogel’s La Toison d’or, Paolo Pandolfo in Couperin, Enrico Gatti with 17th century Italian violin music, Frans Brüggen in Mendelssohn, Antonio Florio in Gaetano Veneziano and Graindelavoix with Confréries.
In recent years the label has also supported the beauties of the voice of Roberta Invernizzi, her recitals enhanced by sympathetic colleagues such as Bonizzoni and Florio (with the former there is a new Handel disc in the offing).
Similarly, it has been delighted to continue its relationship with that early music research, performing and training centre par excellence, the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. Recent releases from the SCB have seen Anthony Rooley directing more vocal music by William Hayes. One to look out for is Christophe Coin appearing on Glossa!
2013 also saw the arrival of Sébastien d’Hérin with his Les Nouveaux Caractères in Rameau and La Compagnia del Madrigale in Gesualdo and Marenzio (more Gesualdo from the Italian group can be expected soon). A joyful disc matched the talents of Pino De Vittorio and Franco Pavan. A further – and forthcoming – Italian presence on Glossa will demonstrate the continuing excellence of Fabio Biondi.
From its beginnings Glossa has captured on record the best of the Spanish artists, especially in Spanish repertory, and it is with pride and pleasure that this tradition is continuing with the new generation of early music stars from the country: Fahmi Alqhai (with Accademia del Piacere), Josetxu Obregón (and La Ritirata) and Enrike Solinís (with his Euskal Barrokensemble).
Mixing the work of new arrivals with established performers, but always with creative energy, has become a constant and pleasurable challenge for Glossa. 2014 is starting off very well for the label and its present recording plans give it much confidence.