Why "Natural Sound"?
Meridian use only a single pair of microphones in their recordings, on the basis that one only takes two ears to the concert-hall so why use more than two microphones?  In addition, Meridian use only the highest quality equipment and avoid all processing such as compression, equalisation and artificial reverberation. This approach has remained the bed-rock of Meridian's policy and continues to draw wide praise from reviewers and buyers alike.

And the performers?
Again, Meridian has a reputation for finding exciting new musicians who become major international names as well as recording established artists.  The catalogue currently includes recordings by The Sixteen, The King's Consort, The Cardinall's Musick, His Majesties Sagbutts and Cornetts, James Bowman, Ian Partridge, Onyx Brass, Mobius, Fou Ts'ong, The New Gabrieli Quartet, Susanne Stanzeleit, The Edinburgh Quartet, The Primrose Piano Quartet, The Lindsays, John Bingham and David Sanger, amongst a list of many.

What about the music?

Meridian has a strong reputation for making recordings of unusual repertoire, often by mainstream composers.  The current catalogue includes première recordings of chamber music by Ethel Smyth, Kenneth Leighton, Alan Bush, George Enescu, Thomas Wilson, Copland, Earl of Kelly, Mackenzie, McEwen etc. and, string quartets by Rimsky-Korsakov, symphonies and concertos by Bernard Stevens, orchestral music by John Jeffreys and Jim Parker and choral works by Antony le Fleming and Rihards Dubra, as well as chamber music by Charles Camilleri, Paul Patterson and many others.
The catalogue covers all periods and genres of 'classical' music along with recordings of big-band, salon and world music.

Who are we?

Meridian is an independent British record label, founded in 1977 by John Shuttleworth and the late Francis Loring. It is based in a leafy street in the borough of Greenwich, south-east London.  The company is run by Manager & Director Richard Hughes, (who is also the chief engineer and artwork designer) and employs just three people: a producer/editor  Susanne Stanzeleit, an assistant sound engineer Alex Gettinby,
 and a general assistant Tim Randall.  
All musical production and artwork design is done "in-house" to maintain the highest quality at all times.

 

Who is Meridian Records?
Meridian is an independent British record label, founded in 1977 by John Shuttleworth and the late Francis Loring. It is based in a leafy street in the borough of Greenwich, south-east London.  The company is run by Manager & Director Richard Hughes, (who is also the chief engineer and artwork designer) and employs just three people: a producer/editor  Susanne Stanzeleit, an assistant sound engineer (Alex Gettinby), and a general assistant (Tim Randall).  All musical production and artwork design is done "in-house" to maintain the highest quality at all times.

Why "Natural Sound"?
Meridian use only a single pair of microphones in their recordings, on the basis that one only takes two ears to the concert-hall so why use more than two microphones?  In addition, Meridian use only the highest quality equipment and avoid all processing such as compression, equalisation and artificial reverberation. This approach has remained the bed-rock of Meridian's policy and continues to draw wide praise from reviewers and buyers alike.

Four Decades of Praise:
E77003 (later CDE 84256) - Consort Music of the English Renaissance
The technical standard of this disc is absolutely superb, with an open natural acoustic and realistic stereo imagary. [DB - Practical Hi-Fi, June 1978]

E77088 (later CDE 84297) - Anthems by S.S. Wesley
This recording is another example from Meridian of just how well a single microphone pair can handle complex and extensive material. [Peter Turner - Hi-Fi News, May 1985]

CDE 84370 - French Choral Music
Meridian's recorded sound is excellent, its clarity catching every delicate nuance of the phrasing; the resonance makes the sound radiant without being distracting.
[Janet Banks - BBC Music Magazine December 1997

CDE 84404 - Hummel Trios and Scottish Song Settings
The care that has gone into both recording quality and the performances on this disc is evident, and is fully recommended. [Ian Graham-Jones - Early Music Review, October 1999)

CDE 84412 - Israeli Wind Virtuosi
The recording is detailed without being spotlit and is a pleasure to hear.
[Colin Clarke, 2000]

CDE 84430 - Turina Violin Sonatas
Meridian captures the sound of both instruments with gorgeous clarity and fine balance
[Roderick Dunnett - The Strad, October 2000]

CDE 84458 - Bush Chamber Works vol. 1
"convincingly played, excellently engineered and attractively presented, should be on everyone's shopping list"
[Piers Burton-Page International Record Review, December 2002]

CDE 84469 - Enescu Music for Violin and Piano
"Stanzeleit & Jacobson bring a spirited eloquence to these performances, revelling in the sonatas' virtuoso demands as well as their atmospheric lyricism, and they're recorded in a pleasantly natural ambience - HIGHLY RECOMMENDABLE"
[Calum MacDonald BBC Music Magazine March 2003]


What about the music?
Meridian has a strong reputation for making recordings of unusual repertoire, often by mainstream composers.  The current catalogue includes première recordings of chamber music by Ethel Smyth, Kenneth Leighton, Alan Bush, George Enescu, Thomas Wilson, Copland, Earl of Kelly, Mackenzie, McEwen etc. and, string quartets by Rimsky-Korsakov, symphonies and concertos by Bernard Stevens, orchestral music by John Jeffreys and Jim Parker and choral works by Antony le Fleming and Rihards Dubra, as well as chamber music by Charles Camilleri, Paul Patterson and many others.
The catalogue covers all periods and genres of 'classical' music along with recordings of big-band, salon and world music.

And the performers?
Again, Meridian has a reputation for finding exciting new musicians who become major international names as well as recording established artists.  The catalogue currently includes recordings by The Sixteen, The King's Consort, The Cardinall's Musick, His Majesties Sagbutts and Cornetts, James Bowman, Ian Partridge, Onyx Brass, Mobius, Fou Ts'ong, The New Gabrieli Quartet, Susanne Stanzeleit, The Edinburgh Quartet, The Primrose Piano Quartet, The Lindsays, John Bingham and David Sanger, amongst a list of many.