Telarc achieved its reputation for the exceptionally clear, natural sound of its recordings. Even before the public had heard of the digital process, they were embracing the sound of Telarc. Critics have praised it, and Telarc 's artists rely on it, knowing that Telarc's recorded sound gives them the most faithful possible representation of their artistry. "From their very first recordings," said renowned conductor Robert Shaw of his twenty-year recording history with Telarc, "Robert Woods and Jack Renner have brought intelligence, care and creativity to their work, which immediately challenged the standards of the entire recording industry. All audiophiles and lovers of music are in their debt."
"Telarc prides itself on the naturalness and transparency of its recorded sound," says Vice President of Production and Artist Relations, Elaine Martone. "Coming from a musician's background, I have always valued this aspect of our craft," she continues. "In our classical, jazz and blues recordings there is a tactile presence to the instruments and voices, drawing in the listener from the opening notes."
Since 1980, Telarc has been honored with forty Grammy Awards for performance, production, and engineering, as well as Label of the Year from Gramophone, the French Grand Prix du Disque and Diapason d' Or; Japan's Record of the Year; and Germany's Audiophile CD of the Year.
Although it began as a classical-only recording company, Telarc now boasts a catalog of more than 800 recordings, ranging from classical, classical-crossover, jazz, contemporary jazz, blues and country. Look for Telarc to break into world of pop/rock music in 2005 with releases from Alana Davis and Los Super Seven. The company releases more than sixty recordings each year, along with their partner-in-music, Heads Up International, working with a distinguished roster of artists, and backed by an outstanding staff of more than fifty employees in its Cleveland, Ohio-based headquarters.
Who and what enabled this comparatively small, independent American company to achieve this revered position? How is it still successfully challenging the majors in the recording industry? And what is it doing to ensure that it will keep its leading edge into the next millennium and beyond?