Alto was born in 2006 to answer collectors’ pleas vis: “there are too many great recordings, best-sellers but lost within labels that have closed over the years” and so we decided to try and license the best ones for reissue.

This results in a very carefully-chosen range, no desire for over-supply. All titles are thoroughly researched and sampled before owners are approached. These represent the bulk of the label, but we have also issued new recordings from several favourite artists, for example Moscow State Orchestra, Radoslav Kvapil (‘father of Czech piano music’), the superb Rosamunde Trio, wonderful Russian cellists Karine Georgian and Marina Tarasova, and the well-researched Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra.

Amongst the reputed labels that have ‘fed’, or continue to feed, the catalogue are: Collins Classics, IMP, Olympia CD, ASV, Melodiya, LSO Live, Unicorn-Kanchana, Vox, Vanguard, RPO/Tring, as well as early recordings of Decca, EMI, Deutsche Grammophon and Sony/CBS, Mercury etc.

The policy is always:
-very low prices
-striking & appropriate packaging
-very informative notes and/or synopses
-meticulous sound-engineering
-review quotes on CD backs (viewable)

The label expanded so rapidly in 2008/9 that we opened a new distribution in January 2010 from Manchester, UK, and we now also distribute other labels alongside, into both UK and worldwide territories, eg Northern Flowers, Parnassus, Vanguard/Omega, Griffin & Co, Urilicht and Musical Concepts/ensemble.

Do enjoy this website!

Alto Distribution
6-8 Magnus House
Ashfield Road
Cheadle
SK8 1BB

0161 491 3580

[email protected]

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