Canterbury Classics

Canterbury Classic provides a friendly efficient mail order service for purchasing all types of music on CD and their Interative Catalogue, which you can install here, aims to make the process of music buying a pleasure in itself.
This month, their catalogue provides full information and sound samples of another selection of CDs from the award winning Canadian classical music label, Analekta fleurs de lys, plus a selection of CDs from other classical record labels - including the popular Classic fM record label.

The Analekta fleurs de lys collection

In 1988, Montreal Impressario Mari Labbe founded the Analekta Recording Company. His goal was to make this new company one of CanadaÕs leading independant classical recording labels.

From the beginning, Analekta has recorded some of the finest Canadian musicians and ensembles and has developed into the single most important commercial label for Canadian classical artists. In 1992 Analekat Distribtuion was founded and Mario Labbe and Co-Founder, Pierre Boivin, have established the company as CanadaÕs second largest distributor.

National sucess promoted Analekta to tackle the international market, and last autumn, it launched the fleurs de lys collection. An exceptional series of high quality recordings, the fleurs de lys range comprises of new recordings together with the best of AnalektaÕs back catalogue. The initial release comprised of 70 titles featuring 34 musicians and 9 ensembles. In the coming months, three new recordings will be added to the range per month.

The collectionÕs name, fleurs de lys, was inspired by Quebec Emblem and is a proud symbol of the provinceÕs European roots the first fleurs de lys emblem was seen in France in the Middle Ages and became FranceÕs national emblem under Louis VI.

Unique to the fleurs de lys collection is its exquisite cover art which bear colour reproductions of works by distinguished Canadian pianters, courtesy of the Musee du QuebecÕs extensive permanent collection. The association of a recording company with a museological institution is, in itself, an unusual venture and in keeping with the overall artistic philosophy of Analekta.

The fleurs de lys collection is an invitation to discover repertoire and artists that make the name of Analekta worthy of its etymology a choice collection of works. The acknowledged high quality of the recordings makes fleurs de lys a connoisseurÕs reference while its mid price range makes it universally accessible.

The fleurs de lys collection is  distributed exclusively in the UK by Canterbury Classics and is available through mail order or from at all good record shops.