Select Music and Video Distribution Ltd

A company founded in 1991 to distribute and market the Naxos and Marco Polo labels in the UK. It has since grown to distribute more than 140 independent classical labels, including Arthaus, BBC Legends, BIS, Bridge, C Major Entertainment, Capriccio, Chandos, Collegium, Coro, CPO, Dacapo, EuroArts, Gimell, Hyperion, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Newton Classics, Nimbus, Oehms Classics, Opera Rara, Onyx, Opus Arte, Orchid Classics and SDG.

A selection of articles about Select Music and Video Distribution Ltd

CD Spotlight. Quite Unusual - Orchestral storytelling by Jon Deak, heard by Geoff Pearce. 'The performances here are very good, the music colourful and inventive, and I can imagine that this disc may appeal more to people with children than to adult listeners.'

CD Spotlight. An Impassioned Account - Seldom-performed Beethoven, recommended by Geoff Pearce. '... excellent performances by all concerned.'

CD Spotlight. Jollity Ultimately Triumphs - Orchestral music by Dmitri Kabalevsky, heard by Geoff Pearce. 'I am pleased to see this interesting disc, as it showcases an important composer from the Soviet era.'

CD Spotlight. Particularly Thrilling - Music for strings by Alfonso Romero Asenjo intrigues Geoff Pearce. 'It showcases the composer's skill in writing for strings, and at the same time one can sense his development as a composer.'

CD Spotlight. Novel Sounds and Experimentation - Havergal Brian's Symphonies Nos 7 and 16, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'Alexander Walker and his Russian forces give passionately committed performances, highly idiomatic and bursting with excitement.'

CD Spotlight. The Spirit of Tango - Piazzolla's 'María de Buenos Aires', recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Bouncy yet thought-provoking stuff.'

CD Spotlight. A True Czech Operatic Masterpiece - Gerald Fenech listens to Janáček's 'The Cunning Little Vixen'. 'This performance from Frankfurt has everything going for it ...'

CD Spotlight. Truly Sublime - Mariss Janssons conducts Bruckner's Symphony No 9, recommended by Geoff Pearce. 'The precision, attention to detail, warmth and depth of sound really set this recording apart from the pack.'

CD Spotlight. Two Fine Violinists - Stephen Francis Vasta listens to music by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. 'Even the Violin Concerto ends with a downward chordal scale that 'resolves' to a dissonance, "à la" Charles Ives!'

CD Spotlight. Very Weird - Orchestral music by Witold Lutoslawski, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'This is meaty music through and through and, admittedly, for some this may be off-putting.'

DVD Spotlight. Unstinted Commitment - Janáček's Cunning Little Vixen, enjoyed by Gerald Fenech

DVD Spotlight. Blissful Serenity? - Massenet's 'Don Quichotte', reviewed by Robert Anderson. 'The Sofia pit has performed throughout with a rationality that appears only fitfully on stage.'

DVD Spotlight. Cooperative Cauliflower - Tchaikovsky's 'Eugene Onegin', reviewed by Robert Anderson. 'The best and worst of this production can be grasped at once ...'

CD Spotlight. Predominantly Sorrowful - Weinberg's 'Polish Flowers' Symphony impresses Patric Standford

CD Spotlight. Prolific Output - Orchestral music by Eugene Zádor, heard by Howard Smith. 'The Budapest Symphony Orchestra MÁV glows in this adjunct to Tinseltown.'

CD Spotlight. Quite Splendid - American vocal and symphonic music, heard by Bill Newman. '... much enjoyment and interest ...'

CD Spotlight. Greatest of Pleasure - Tchaikovsky and Mahler from Goldstone and Haitink, heard by Bill Newman. '... moving in the extreme.'

DVD Spotlight. Imperial Power - Pergolesi's 'La Salustia', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... much memorable singing ...'

CD Spotlight. Historically Significant - 'Didone Abbandonata' by Johann Hasse, heard by Howard Smith. 'Michael Hofstetter directs a consistently dramatic, high tensile performance.'

DVD Spotlight. Considerable Turmoil - 'La Battaglia di Legnano', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... Verdi patriotic is not necessarily Verdi at his most subtle.'

CD Spotlight. Shining Through - The classical inheritance of Schubert's Symphonies impresses Andrew Schartmann. '... a fascinating perspective ...'

CD Spotlight. War and Peace - Music by Karabits and Silvestrov, heard by Howard Smith. 'Another enterprising feather in Naxos' richly plumaged cap.'

DVD Spotlight. An Operatic Cinderella - Verdi's 'Il Corsaro' impresses Robert Anderson. '... a very sensitive staging ...'

DVD Spotlight. Quite Riveting - Pergolesi's 'L'Olimpiade' impresses Gerald Fenech. '... sound and visuals are top-drawer stuff.'

DVD Spotlight. Divine Permission - A Gluck double bill, reviewed by Robert Anderson. 'The musical performance under Marc Minkowski is more convincing than the staging ...'

DVD Spotlight. Brilliant Sounds - Pergolesi's 'Adriano in Siria', reviewed by Robert Anderson. 'The music is as bewitching as the story is dotty.'

DVD Spotlight. Highly Intriguing - The Vienna Boys Choir in the Far East, reviewed by Gerald Fenech. '... a refreshingly different portrait of this hugely versatile group ...'

CD Spotlight. Tension and Mystery - Rimsky-Korsakov orchestral suites, heard by Gerald Fenech. '... the music is dear to the heart of these players ...'

DVD Spotlight. Blocks of Snow - 'Cavalleria rusticana' and 'Pagliacci', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... not always marooned in frozen wastes.'

DVD Spotlight. A Mixed Bag - Ballets choreographed by Angelin Preljocaj, reviewed by Howard Smith. 'Apart from the galvanised buckets it's all effectively eye-catching ...'

DVD Spotlight. Doubly Effective - A classic documentary with music by Copland, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... a fascinating picture of America ...'

DVD Spotlight. Outrageously Flamboyant - Christian Lindberg as trombonist, composer and conductor, recommended by Ron Bierman. '... an extraordinary character ...'

DVD Spotlight. A Needless Diversion - 'Die Entführung aus dem Serail', reviewed by Robert Anderson. 'The applause of the Amsterdam audience is notably muted.'

DVD Spotlight. Dramatic Truth - Giuseppe Verdi's 'Don Carlo', reviewed by Robert Hugill. '... a strong candidate for the library shelves.'

DVD Spotlight. Wonderfully Resourceful - Rossini's 'Il Turco in Italia', reviewed by Robert Anderson. 'The orchestra under Antonello Allemandi seem to have relished the evening as much as I did.'

DVD Spotlight. Characteristic Schubert - 'Alfonso und Estrella', appreciated by Robert Anderson. '... splendidly sung and played ...'

CD Spotlight. A Towering Rage - Shostakovich's Symphony No 11, heard by Robert Anderson. '... total conviction.'

DVD Spotlight. The Heart of Opera - Giuseppe Verdi's 'La forza del destino', reviewed by Maria Nockin. '... a rhythmically alert, exciting performance ...'

CD Spotlight. High Spirits - Music by Dohnányi, heard by Howard Smith. '... the Buffalonians ... make their virtuosity seem almost effortless ...'

CD Spotlight. A Brave Show - Choral music by Sibelius, heard by Robert Anderson. '... much here to surprise and fascinate ...'

CD Spotlight. Delicate Refinement - Music for piano by Sibelius, heard by Robert Anderson. 'Folke Gräsbeck is a splendid advocate ...'

CD Spotlight. Quite Magical - Marin Alsop conducts Dvorák Symphonies, enjoyed by Howard Smith. 'The Baltimores' finale sings and blazes with equal compulsion ...'

CD Spotlight. Quite Orgiastic - Petrenko conducts Shostakovich, recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... very much on the ball ...'

CD Spotlight. An Impressive Performance - Michael Ludwig plays music by John Corigliano, heard by Patric Standford. '... should not fail to entertain ...'

DVD Spotlight. A Glorious Time - Purcell's 'The Fairy Queen', recommended by Robert Anderson. '... tender expression and all requisite vim.'

CD Spotlight. An Ideal Exponent - Eniko Magyar plays English viola music, recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... beautifully executed and superbly recorded ...'

DVD Spotlight. A New Light - La Scala gives 'Maria Stuarda' the royal treatment, by Gregory Moomjy. '... the cast was in fine voice ...'

DVD Spotlight. Tragic Power - Handel's 'Tamerlano', reviewed by Robert Anderson. 'The simplicity of the production is welcome ...'

CD Spotlight. Transcendent Resignation - Mahler's Ninth Symphony, heard by David Wilkins. '... played with love and knowledge and commitment ...'

DVD Spotlight. A Rarity - Jonathan Dove's 'The Adventures of Pinocchio', reviewed by Howard Smith. '... considerable merits on display ...'

CD Spotlight. Great Poise - Petrenko conducts Shostakovich symphonies, recommended by Paul Sarcich. '... care and thoughtfulness ...'

DVD Spotlight. Malignant Fate - Donizetti's 'Maria Stuarda', recommended by Robert Anderson. '... wonderfully alert ...'

DVD Spotlight. Evident Delight - Puccini's 'La rondine', heard by Robert Anderson. '... exciting acrobatics ...'

DVD Spotlight. Attractive and Skilful - Royal Opera's 'Hansel and Gretel', recommended by Patric Standford. '... a first class cast ...'

DVD Spotlight. Beyond Beauty - A film about Sergiu Celibidache, seen by Ioana Osoianu. 'There are no compromises.'

DVD Spotlight. Gripping Throughout - Donizetti's 'Lucrezia Borgia', recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Dimitra Theodossiou's Lucrezia rivals that of many of her illustrious predecessors ...'

DVD Spotlight. Superlative Music - Mozart's 'Don Giovanni', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... the flames are formidable ...'