Profile
After 30 years, and more than 70 international releases with companies like Philips/Polygram, RCA/BMG, and EMI, the Danish classical artists, recorder player Michala Petri and guitarist/lute player Lars Hannibal launch November 1th 2006 their own recording label, OUR Recordings.
As the name suggests, their releases were intended to be mostly recordings where either Michala Petri or Lars Hannibal or both are involved. The idea was to have the full artistic and creative freedom and responsibility to record what they felt was necessary and consistent with their desire to explore new challenges. The last years OUR Recordings have expanded the catalogue with some of the most interesting Danish artists and ensembles.
To date May 2024, OUR Recordings has released 66 critically acclaimed recordings, and has earned international recognition, including the ECHO KLASSIK Awards, and OPUS KLASSIK Awards (Germany), four Grammy nominations (US) a Gramophone Award nomination (UK), Diapason d’Or de l’année 2015 (France) ICMA Award 2016 and ICMA 2017, 2019 and 2024 nomination (International Classic Music Award) Danish Music Award (P2 Prize) 2016, 2019 and 2023 for Best Danish Release, 2021 “Listeners Prize” as Best Release, and 3 Danish Music Award nominations, many CD of the Week in both Klassik Heute and DRP2, FMA Award 2016, many Gold and Silver Global Music Awards, and several Editor Choice in Gramophone, CD of the Month in BBC Music Magazine, SUPERSONIC´s in Pizzicato and JOKER in Crescendo Magazine.
Several ambitious cycles have already captivated collectors and critics alike, including the Dialogue - East meets West series, and Michala Petri’s ongoing campaign to expand her instrument’s modern concerto repertoire, with recorder concertos from various countries as well as works for recorder and choir. Also, the series with music by late Danish composer Axel Borup-Jørgensen and the releases with Danish National Vocal Ensemble have been receiving overwhelming international response.
The plans for the two next year’s releases are made and include Esbjerg Ensemble playing chamber music by Axel Borup-Jørgensen, harp music by Danish and French composers with Zachary Hatcher, new recorder concerto written for Michala Petri and Kremerata Baltica by Poul Ruders, vocal music by Else Marie Pade and Slovenian composer Uros Krek with Danish National Vocal Ensemble conducted by Martina Batic, J.S Bach 6 cello suites with cellist Henrik Dam Thomsen, J.S Bach 6 cello suites in new wind arrangements, played and arranged by Michala Petri, a Christmas album with Michala Petri and The Danish Chamber Orchestra conducted by Henrik Vagn Christensen, an album called ON A GROUND with Japanese harp player Marie Nishiyama and Michala Petri, Schumann and Kabalevsky Cello Concertos with Teodor Lyngstad and Copenhagen Phil conducted by Eva Ollikainen, Schubert´s WINTERREISE with Jacob Bloch Jespersen and Sharon Prushansky on period piano, Carl Nielsen 3. Symphony Espansiva, in Carl Nielsen’s own arrangement for 2 pianos, with Kristoffer Hyldig and Rikke Sandberg, Trio Alfa – an album called IMPROVISATIONS, Kristoffer Hyldig playing Olivier Messiaen and Poul Ruders, an all Maurice Ravel program with conductor Pierre Bleuse and Odense Symphony Orchestra, new works for cello and accordion with Toke Møldrup and Bjarke Mogensen, works for bass baryton Jacob Bloch Jespersen and Peter Navarro Alonso, organ, composers Bent Lorenzen, (Erotiske Salmer), Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen (Salomoniske Sange) og Nicolai Worsaae (A shipwreck), all Carl Nielsen solo piano works with Rikke Sandberg, guitarist Frederik Munk Larsen playing Llobet on Llobets own guitar, Rudersdal Chamber Ensemble playing Dmitri Smirnov and Elena Firsova, Bjarke Mogensen, accordion and guitarist Jesper Sivebæk playing concertos by Ole Schmidt and there are more in the pipeline.
OUR Recordings has a close collaboration with the internationally recognized producer Preben Iwan and producer Mette Due. The recordings are mainly in DXD audio format (Digital eXtreme Definition), 352.8 kHz/24 or 32bit. Many new releases will be in Dolby Atmos format.
OUR Recordings cooperate with Edition Borup-Jørgensen www.borup-jorgensen.dk on recordings and promotion of the music by Axel Borup-Jørgensen (1924-2012), one of the most important voices in Modern Danish Music.
Cover art and graphics CEZBP/OUR Recordings and website Lise Mierca www.pixelpost.dk
OUR Recordings enjoys global distribution with NAXOS, Joshua Cheek work with PR in US and John Cronin with PR in UK.