Since it was founded in 1995, the British independent CD label of classical music, SOMM Recordings, has captured everyone's imagination. Its aim is to share with its public the joy of classical music and the delight of discovering fresh repertoire, performed by artists of talent and scholarship. SOMM receives frequent accolades worldwide from collectors, music lovers, critics and the media for recordings of quality, style and originality.

In addition to its championing of British music and an unusual catalogue of choral music and song, SOMM and its artists are now working together to uncover new comers of the repertoire in a variety of genres, styles and periods, from the unique to the extraordinary and from the early to the contemporary.

The SOMM catalogue consists of three main strands:

Our SOMM full-price catalogue (SOMMCD 200 - SOMMCD 237) comprising mostly first recordings of unusual repertoire.

The Céleste Catalogue (beginning with SOMMCD 010) offers a variety of mid-price CDs -- mostly new recordings of instrumental and chamber music, but also a number of re-issues and historical recordings never before issued.

Also on celesta at mid-price is our ''New Horizon's" series, the aim of which is to provide exceptionally talented young musicians with the opportunity of promoting their careers worldwide in top-quality recordings. The artists in this series are chosen from the cream of interpreters of the new generation on their way to international recognition.

The recordings in the Beecham Collection (to be released shortly) have been lovingly restored and digitally remastered from acetates and 78s by sound engineer Gary Moore who is not only a wizard with restoring sound and remastering but, most importantly, has kept the music intact. Listening to these finished discs one becomes aware of what Beecham' s music-making really meant. One marvels anew at his almost infallible musical instinct, his affection for the music he chose to conduct, his total involvement in the score, his rapport with his players and the amazingly high standard of performance he could coax from them.

The Beecham Collection consists, almost without exception, of previously unissued recordings of studio and live recordings and broadcasts conduced by Sir Thomas with favorite orchestras and artists. Here is also ample proof that whilst remaining one of the greatest supporters of British artists and repertoire, he was also an inspired interpreter of a huge range of music from Handel and Mozart to Sibelius, Richard Strauss and Wagner.