About …

OnClassical is the first e-label to produce, sell and license high quality recordings of classical music through the internet.

Founded by Alessandro Simonetto in 2003, OnClassical is unanimously recognized as an e-label for audiophiles for the quality of the recordings.

__

Also to read: http://onclassical.com/blog/articolo.asp?articolo=15

The recordings are usually performed in (small) churches, auditoriums, theaters, precisely chosen, under the supervision of the sound engineer, according to the best acoustic and logistical needs.

The recording quality comes from a deep knowledge of art to capturing sounds, including acoustic and psycho acoustic phenomena, instrumental organology, and a professional music preparation and artistic sense.

__

Ponte degli Alpini a Bassano del Grappa Alpini Bridge in Bassano del Grappa (photo by ©Alessandro Simonetto)

Some specifics

We use: Neumann & DPA microphones (KM 100 series, KM 184, KM 183, TLM 103, K 47 [M 147]), ex B&J 4009 marched pair, Amek/Neve preamplifiers and may record the following formats: (PCM/WAV/BWF, PCM/A/mu-LAW, ACM, DVI/IMA, ADPCM, RAWDATA, RAW/DBL  (44.1 kHz @ 16/24 bit, 48 kHz @ 16/24 bit, 88.2 kHz @ 24 bit, 96 kHz @ 24 bit, 176.4 kHz @ 24 bit, 192 kHz @ 24 bit), 1-bit audio format/DSDIFF/DSF/WSD/DSD (2.8 MHz @ 1-bit, 5.6 MHz @ 1-bit), MP3/OGG/WMA & FLAC lossless).

Very close to Bassano del Grappa (see picture) we have a little study where we own the following instruments:
Blüthner grancoda Piano (1952), aliquot
Ruckers-Horn  two manuals Harpsichord (from Antwerp 1638) (8′, 8′ + liute, 4′)
- 2 Hi-Fi systems with Audio Analogue, Cambridge Audio, Triangle, Dynaudio, KS Digital equipment.

@les e il microfono … (photo by ©Benedetta Salmini)

Some critics…

[...] OnClassical determined to conquer the most demanding in terms of sound quality.

Alice Bertolini, Corriere del Veneto
II/2009 (original article)

[OnClassical] is surely one of the best gifts that the Internet has given the audiophile!

Nick Whetstone, TNT-Audio, review
I/2009 (original article)

We really appreciate the excellent work by Alessandro Simonetto.

Alfred Zeillinger, Director of Bösendorfer pianos
Vienna III/2007 (original appreciation)

OnClassical is a phenomenal project and I would love to get it up on our blog as an FC [Featured Commoner] piece!

Cameron Parkins, Cultural Program Assistant of Creative Commons
XI/2007 (read full article/interview)

[...] the gifted Alessandro Simonetto is internationally known for this activity of websites founder such as Kunst der Fuge, now the largest resource of classical music in MIDI format on the web, and OnClassical, first Italian record label to produce and publish music online with the new Creative Commons philosophy.

Elena Castellan, Il Giornale di Vicenza, half page review, X/2007

Listen to and/or download some of our recordings in CD quality.

Alessandro Simonetto “is a tremendous natural talent”  (Eric James, music associate of Sir Charles S. Chaplin).
Alessandro Simonetto studied harpsichord after graduating in piano, composition, and sound engineering at the Conservatory of Music Agostino Steffani in Castelfranco Veneto, and at the Conservatory of Music Cesare Pollini in Padua, Italy. He then refined his skills through the participation at various master classes, and through performance studies at the KTH/TMH of Stockholm, and in his native country.
In 2004, with the collaboration of dozens of enthusiast musicians, Mr. Simonetto launched kunstderfuge.com. The site is now the main resource of .mid files of classical music on the internet. Alessandro Simonetto is also the founder, producer, and artistic director of the record label OnClassical (onclassical.com), the only example of iLabel entirely devoted to classical music. Through this initiative he has been often interviewed by major Italian newspapers and radios and invited to some of the most important festivals. He has produced over one-hundred recordings, which have been eventually released by various labels.
As a recording artist, Mr. Simonetto has debut with the 9 Suittes voor Clavicembel by Pieter Bustijn released for Brilliant Classics. This is the world-premiere recording of the only existant keyboard works of the baroque Flemish composer.
Alessandro Simonetto has composed works for keyboard instruments, choir, chamber ensembles, and electronic music. He is the conductor of Coro Bassano, a historic male choir devoted to folk music.

__

Alessandro Simonetto “is a tremendous natural talent”  (Eric James, music associate of Sir Charles S. Chaplin).

Alessandro Simonetto studied harpsichord after graduating in piano, composition, and sound engineering at the Conservatory of Music Agostino Steffani in Castelfranco Veneto, and at the Conservatory of Music Cesare Pollini in Padua, Italy. He then refined his skills through the participation at various master classes in piano, harpsichord, choir conducting, and through performance studies (through MIDI protocol) at the KTH/TMH of Stockholm, and in his native country.

In 2004, with the collaboration of dozens of enthusiast musicians, Mr. Simonetto launched kunstderfuge.com. The site is now the largest resource of classical music in .mid format, with over 18,000 authorized files, c. 1000 composers represented, over 200 contributors (some of whom have an exclusive contract with the site), and an average of 5,000 visitors per day.

Alessandro Simonetto is also the founder, producer, and artistic director of the record label OnClassical (onclassical.com), the first example of i(nternet)Label devoted to classical music. Through this initiative he has been often interviewed by major Italian newspapers and radios and invited to some of the most important festivals. He has collaborated with first class musicians and produced over one-hundred recordings, which have been eventually released by various labels.

Alessandro Simonetto has composed works for keyboard instruments, choir, chamber ensembles, and electronic music.