SFEM

Sfem Classics (2009-2016) is a research project of SFEM Records & Publishing Group. Having formerly dealt exclusively in non-classical project, the label wished to branch out, undertaking to bring a series historic recordings to public attention. This was a choral effort by SFEM, the local cultural association Istituzione Casa Della Musica di Parma (It), EMI Music Italy and EMI Classic Europe. A collection of rare and precious recording, kept in the archives of the Teatro Regio in Parma, was made available by the theatre management, with a view to having them restored and published. Thus Historic Collection was born, published in 2010 as the first release under the sub-label known today as Sfem Classics. The Collection comprised four volumes of recordings, collected and compared with academic purposes, and it was distributed digi- tally and physically by EMI Classic. In 2011 a wider portion of the same archives was digitalised and distributed, thus bringing about more releases, focusing on full unpublished operas. Subsequently, SFEM embraced for its classical and opera production the same philosophy that had shaped its activity as an independent label, focusing on the production and releasing of titles by artists that made the reinterpretation of classics a sublime form of storytelling. SFEM’s releases are labours of love and focus on quality over quantity and on passion over profit. Each and every release by SFEM exists for a specific reason: it may be the desire to compare different rendition of the same piece of music through the decades or different compositions pertaining to the same theme, it may be the need to showcase a young talent’s abilities, as we help them build their career. The ultimate goal of SFEM Classics as a brand is to pass on what we feel is a precious heritage to all, pursuing passion and academic interest over market strategies, but sharing such passion and such interest with the most effective means that modern technologies allow us.