Accentus Music

Lore & Background

Accentus Music was founded by film producer Paul Smaczny, who had worked for EuroArts for the 20 years prior. The company has its own staff of 12 producers, directors, camera operators, audio producers and editors. It established itself as a DVD/Blu-ray label on the classical music market in 2010, producing concert and opera recordings as well as feature-length documentaries and artist portraits.

Reader's Guide

Accentus Music has earned recognition in the classical music industry, including the 2017 'Czech Crystal', Gramophone Classical Music Award (2017), and Label of the Year at the 2015 International Classical Music Awards (ICMA). Its productions are regularly featured at film festivals and reviewed in major publications such as Der Spiegel, Gramophone Magazine, BBC Music Magazine, and the Guardian. The label's recordings and DVDs are offered through sites such as Presto Classical and Naxos Records. In 2020, the label produced a commemorative set of videos to mark its 10th Anniversary. Its significance lies in its consistent output of high-profile classical music recordings and documentaries, contributing to the preservation and dissemination of contemporary classical music and music research.

Did You Know?

• Accentus Music was founded by film producer Paul Smaczny, who had worked for EuroArts for 20 years prior.
• The label has a staff of 12 producers, directors, camera operators, audio producers and editors.
• Accentus Music won Label of the Year at the 2015 International Classical Music Awards (ICMA).
• The label produced a commemorative set of videos in 2020 to mark its 10th Anniversary.

Founding & Corporate Identity

Accentus Music emerged in March 2010 in Leipzig, Germany, as a classical music record label and production company. Its founder, Paul Smaczny, brought two decades of experience from EuroArts to the venture, giving the new enterprise a deep institutional understanding of the classical recording world from day one. Based in Leipzig, the company operates with a dedicated in-house team of twelve professionals spanning producers, directors, camera operators, audio producers, and editors. This compact but skilled staff allows Accentus to handle both audio and video production internally, producing CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays as well as feature-length documentaries and artist portraits. The label positioned itself immediately as a DVD and Blu-ray presence in the classical music market, while also maintaining a strong audio catalog. By combining film production sensibilities with classical music expertise, Accentus carved out a distinctive niche that set it apart from purely audio-focused labels.

Artistic Partnerships & Catalogue

Accentus Music has cultivated particularly close relationships with two major orchestras: the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and the Staatskapelle Berlin. Their catalogue features recordings and video productions with luminaries including Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim, Riccardo Chailly, Evgeny Kissin, Martha Argerich, the New York Philharmonic, and the Staatskapelle Berlin, among many others. Beyond concert and opera recordings, the label has built a substantial documentary portfolio spanning composers and musical subjects. Titles range from The Unanswered Ives (2018) and Arvo Pärt – The Lost Paradise (2015) to John Cage – Journeys in Sound (2012) and Maestras – The Long Journey Of Women To The Podium (2016). Live video releases capture landmark performances such as Sir Simon Rattle's farewell at the Lucerne Festival in 2017 and a production of Bellini's Norma from the China NCPA in Beijing. To date, the label has released over 160 commercial products across audio and video formats.

Critical Acclaim & Industry Honors

Accentus Music's work has earned consistent recognition from both the classical music press and major awarding bodies. The label received the Gramophone Classical Music Award in 2017 and the Czech Crystal honor the same year, while also being named Label of the Year at the 2015 International Classical Music Awards. Individual productions have been regularly featured at film festivals around the world. Reviews of Accentus recordings appear consistently in major classical music publications and journals, including Der Spiegel, Fono Forum, Rondo, Wiener Zeitung, Gramophone Magazine, BBC Music Magazine, The Guardian, Classic FM Magazine, Crescendo Magazine, and International Record Review. This breadth of critical coverage across German, Austrian, British, and international outlets underscores the label's standing within the classical music community. The company's products have become well established in both the contemporary classical and music research fields, a testament to the quality and scholarly depth of its catalogue.

Broadcasting, Distribution & Digital Reach

Accentus Music extends its reach well beyond physical media through close collaborations with major European television production companies and broadcasters, including WDR, Arte, RBB, SWR, and ZDF, producing special shows and documentaries for regularly scheduled programming. For promotion and distribution, the label partners with WildKat PR, while its recordings and DVDs are available through numerous online retailers such as Presto Classical and Naxos Records. The company also maintains an actively managed YouTube channel that is viewed by audiences worldwide, giving it a digital presence that complements its traditional distribution channels. In 2020, to mark its tenth anniversary, Accentus produced a commemorative set of videos celebrating a decade of work. This multi-platform approach—spanning broadcast television, online retail, and social media—reflects the label's commitment to making its classical music content accessible to the broadest possible audience while maintaining the high production standards expected by the serious classical listening community.

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