Klaus Heymann
(c) Emily Chu
Naxos has announced its acquisition of the Opus Arte label from the Royal Opera House. A media release says: « The acquisition marks an important step in the company’s expansion of its audiovisual activities, as video is gaining importance in the classical music industry.The Naxos Music Group has been distributing the label worldwide almost since its launch in 1999. Opus Arte is one of the most important top-line international DVD and Blu-ray labels today, focused on opera, ballet and theatre. The acquisition includes an important catalogue of some 600 productions, many of which are also available for licensing for television and video on demand. »
With the addition of the Opus Arte catalogue, the Naxos Music Group holds rights to some 1,600 audiovisual programmes and is now a major player in the business of performing arts on screen.
L-R: David Blake, Managing Director, Select UK; Jeremy Wilkinson, Head of Label, Opus Arte; Klaus Heymann, Chairman, Naxos Music Group; Erwin Stürzer, General Manager, Naxos Audiovisual Division; Rameses Villanueva, Chief Financial Officer, Naxos Music Group; Volker Schirp, Label Coordinator, Opus Arte.
Along with the acquisition of Opus Arte, the Naxos Music Group signed a long-term cooperation agreement with the Royal Opera House, giving Naxos the first option to distribute and market new and upcoming audiovisual recordings of opera and ballet performances from the ROH.
Klaus Heymann, the Founder and Chairman of the Naxos Music Group, says: « Our group has been distributing Opus Arte for many years and I am familiar with the outstanding artistic and technical quality of the productions. I am happy that the distribution relationship has changed into ownership and one of close cooperation in future productions. We are delighted to advise that the experienced team that has run the label for many years will stay on board and develop and further expand the label, to maintain and strengthen its position in the market, now as part of the Naxos Music Group.”
