Brian Couzens, the founder of Chandos Records:

‘Looking back on the last thirty years, I remember the hard work particularly in the early days when Ralph and I used to do everything. I have had the opportunity to work with some wonderful artists, and my philosophy has always been to produce beautiful recordings that people wanted to hear. I have seen the progression from LP and cassette through CD and DAT to digital downloads, although it’s a very different world now to when I started making records. I am proud of Chandos and what we have achieved during thirty years: the awards, the reviews, the sales, but most of all the recordings themselves. I hope Ralph will keep the flame alight for many years to come.’

Chandos’ managing director, Ralph Couzens, said:

‘When you start at the bottom as I did, you learn a lot about the industry and the way it ticks. I spent eight years carrying and fetching, operating tape machines, watching, and listening to artists and sound. From this the “Chandos sound” as it is sometimes called, started by my father, was formed. I think that even today, thirty years later, that sound has stood the test of time and is still very much respected. Of course, we need artists to produce this sound; all we do is capture it in the most natural way. And in the thirty years of the label’s existence, I have to say that we have been very lucky with the roster of artists we have cajoled into recording for us. I would like to thank all of them for their support over the years and for producing some stunning, award winning discs.

Things have changed a lot over thirty years: recording technology, media formats, and the way people get their music. It is sad that so many classical retail outlets have closed. But one thing I am pleased to say has not changed, is that there is still a classical buying public with an appetite for new repertoire and quality recordings. And whilst we still have them, I can promise that Chandos will continue to produce original fine recordings of, sometimes neglected, repertoire, but always with an eye on quality.

The flame is very much alight!’