A passion for excellence, since 1958
Exploring new repertoires, broadening our horizons, developing young talent and constantly striving for excellence: this is harmonia mundi’s motto. We are demanding, passionate, and proud of our independence. This is our story…
In 2008, we celebrated ‘fifty years of musical exploration’ — five decades of taking a fresh look at the music of the past as though it had been written yesterday. Of unlearning fixed habits, of shaking up dated traditions, of going beyond the conventions of our profession to rediscover, if not the original sound, at least the initial spark of that always mysterious instant when a creator notes down on paper the musical ideas that have just come to mind, without always knowing where they will lead.
On that occasion, Bernard Coutaz, founder of harmonia mundi, in the many interviews he gave at the time, enjoyed telling the story of the label, its early days in pursuit of rare historical organs, the ‘kidnapping’ of Alfred Deller one beautiful evening in July 1970, the label’s role in the ‘Baroque Revolution’ and the international development that followed, which has ended up earning harmonia mundi the title of worldwide ‘label of the year’ several times since the beginning of the 2000s: 2005 (Gramophone), 2017 (Classica), 2018 (Gramophone again), 2021 (Classica again!).
In 2024, the label received three Diapason d’Or of the Year awards, two Gramophone Awards (bravo, Isabelle Faust), and 2025 began with the triumphs of Pablo Heras-Casado and Raphaël Pichon at this year’s OPER! Awards, as well as a Recording of the Year accolade for Samuel Hasselhorn and his album Urlicht at the International Classical Music Awards. Not forgetting a well-deserved Victoire de la Musique Classique award for Lucile Richardot, named “best opera singer of the year”!
Music first.
The musicians who join us each year are clearly keen to perpetuate the spirit of adventure and the passion for excellence that presided over the birth of the label. Among them, in 2024 we welcomed as exclusive artists singers Carlo Vistoli (countertenor) and Julian Prégardien (tenor); pianists Aline Piboule as well as Pavel Kolesnikov and Samson Tsoy, performing as a duo; harpsichordist Pierre Gallon; the Hanson Quartet; and the famed Toronto Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Gustavo Gimeno.
2025 is already off to an auspicious start with the arrival, in orchestral repertoire, of the Münchener Kammerorchester under the direction of Enrico Onofri, the NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover (dir. Stanislav Kochanovsky), and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (dir. Vasily Petrenko); and in vocal repertoire, of the voices of Gwendoline Blondeel (soprano) and Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian (countertenor); as well as the ensembles Près de votre oreille (dir. Robin Pharo) and L’Encyclopédie (dir. Florent Albrecht). Other new signings are to be announced shortly: you will find all the updates here on our website.
High standards and passion
Based in Arles since 1985, harmonia mundi is now home to some sixty of the most prestigious international artists in the world of classical music. The years 1990–2000 were also marked by the emergence of a well-regarded international distribution network and by a highly visible chain of retail outlets perfectly positioned for CD dominance: the harmonia mundi boutiques.
Between the passing of Bernard Coutaz in 2010 and that of his wife Eva Coutaz in 2021, an unprecedented upheaval occurred in the world of recording: thus, in the autumn of 2015, by joining [PIAS], founded by Kenneth Gates and Michel Lambot, harmonia mundi also had the opportunity to refocus on its primary identity: music production.
Within the [PIAS] Label Group, that is now part of Universal Music Group, harmonia mundi’s editorial focus has successfully adapted to the workings of a new music economy while continuing to foster its passion for excellence. We are proud to embody a business model that thrives, 67 years after the birth of harmonia mundi.
An artistic model that has succeeded at preserving the label’s integrity.
A humane model, ultimately, which offers a marked contrast to the sound and fury of our time.
La Musique est notre Amitié !
Christian Girardin
Label Director