Off the top no. But the real reason I decided to reply to this post is that I don't think it's the forgotten labels we should be focusing on for great performances. There are literally hundreds/thousands of breathtaking performances recorded every year by public radio, most of which never make it to the general public. This is a BIG problem.

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...There are literally hundreds/thousands of breathtaking performances recorded every year by public radio, most of which never make it to the general public. This is a BIG problem.

Good point. It would be nice if there was an PBS/NPR equivalent to the BBC Music magazine version that comes with a CD in every issue. I subcribed to that mag for a few years - have some wonderful CD's because of it. Never resubscribed after the divorce and a few moves - probably should sign up again...

of course, they sell some CD's via the Internet, but NPR could offer much more and/or offer downloads. I hate MP3, but may have to give the lossless compression codecs out there a chance - maybe even buy an IPod (gasp).

As I type I'm listening to a BBC Prom Concert from the Albert Hall, London, through streaming audio on my computer. Performance outstanding. Sound dreadful. If radio is the future they'll have to do better than this.

I note that several leading orchestras (London Symphony, Concertgebouw, SFSO come immediately to mind) are now recording on their own labels, having abandoned (or been abandoned by) the "major" classical record companies. The exquisite Budapest Festival Orchestra is now on Channel Classics rather than Philips. So forgotten labels may not be the appropriate heading - maybe we need to concentrate on remembering new labels.

There is really no reason for this with all their telethons that performances could not be distributed...except for the "mechanical rights" and performers who must be compensated for their work. Recording performances is easy, the business side is very problematic. I'm sure this is the problem.

Actually that's the part I find the most frustrating. The buisness side for these organizations is NOT problematic, the infrastructure already exists within these organizations to payout composers for their mechanical rights and the unions for their performers. They simply choose to apply their resources elsewhere.

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Of course, they [NPR] sell some CD's via the Internet, but NPR could offer much more and/or offer downloads. I hate MP3, but may have to give the lossless compression codecs out there a chance - maybe even buy an IPod (gasp).

NPR used to offer public archives of "Performance Today" on their website. They recently ended the practice because of "copyright restrictions." It means I can't even pay $30 for a CD of their August 11th program, which featured Evgeny Kissin in a terrific live performance of Beethoven's Fifth Piano Concerto.

To my knowledge, Performance Today is the only NPR program for which one can't order a tape or CD.

This goes way back, but my father had some 78's on the Savoy label that sounded very good...remember we're talking 78's now. It is not surprising to me how few lables there are, and I could also say that I am surprised at how many indie labels exist today and are doing quite well with "vinyl".

This business sure has some nitches that some smart folks are eager to fill. We should all be greatful.

I have a boxed set (S-3096) of LP's from Murray Hill 319 Park Ave. NY 10016 that has 12 lp's of all of the Mozart Piano Concerti for Piano and Orchestra, excluding the double and triple Concerti. Some are only mono but sound pretty good overall. I got this mint-condition set at Fantasy Land records in Buckhead (Atlanta) for all of $20. The pianists include Brendel, Galling, Frankl, Haebler, Klein, Tipo,