Thank you to Classica for this Choc de l'Année ‘Label of the Year’ award that goes straight to my heart and takes on, in this year of new beginnings for Erato, a very special significance.

I'm not going to rehash the vagaries that led EMI to Warner via Universal; that would be too fastidious, and these developments have been widely covered in the media every step of the way.

Suffice to say that along the journey from Virgin Classics to Erato, our label weathered many storms before we were taken under Warner’s wing. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank all the label's artists for their abiding faith in us, their unconditional support, their unshakeable friendship. In these moments of trouble and doubt, not one of them considered abandoning ship; on the contrary, all stuck by us in solidarity; today they embrace being Erato artists with an enthusiasm that warms our hearts. This is why I wish to dedicate this Choc de l'Année above all to them.

In a market that has in France lost more than three quarters of its value over the past 16 years; in a period of transition that is moving away from the era of physical products but that is not yet; at least for classical, entirely a digital era; in a time where we observe labels that were flourishing not long ago now facing major economic strife, it's not always easy to uphold an optimistic outlook every day.

It is, however, exactly what my team strives to do; a diverse but close-knit and passionate team, and it is to my colleagues that I also wish to dedicate this Choc, thanking them for their dedication, professionalism and energy.

But there is more: with our new structure, we have inherited half a century of exceptional creativity in Erato’s prestigious historic catalogue, built up day after day by our predecessors until the label was scandalously shut down by former decision-makers at Warner who, I might add, are no longer affiliated with the company today. This Choc de l'Année is therefore in some way a ‘sweet revenge’ coming full circle; a seminal label risen from the ashes, enriched with new blood from Virgin Classics.

Today my thoughts are also with those who have served Erato since Philippe Loury founded the label in 1953. And in particular I want to pay tribute to man whose name is synonymous with the Erato: I'm speaking of course about its longtime artistic director, the late Michel Garcin. It is therefore to him, last but not least, that I dedicate this Choc de l'Année.

The French magazine Classica has crowned Erato 2014 ‘Label of the Year’ in its prestigious Chocs de l'année awards (‘Shocks of the Year’), announced in the November edition.

The revered French label Erato, named for one of the Greek muses of music, has been part of the Warner Music Group since 1992. After lying dormant for more than a decade, it celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013 with a remarkable comeback, which integrated a rich collection of pioneering Baroque and early music recordings with what was formerly the Virgin Classics catalogue.

Under the direction of Warner Classics and Erato president Alain Lanceron, the label is enjoying a renaissance with its roster of exclusive artists – countertenor Philippe Jaroussky, mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, sopranos Diana Damrau and Natalie Dessay, pianist Alexandre Tharaud, violinist Renaud Capuçon and the Ebène Quartet to name a few – joining a distinguished catalogue that includes pianists Maria João Pires, Daniel Barenboim and Hélène Grimaud, cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, harpsichordist Scott Ross, organist Marie-Claire Alain and William Christie’s Les Arts florissants.

Erato continues to champion exciting new talent, with 23-year-old French harpsichord virtuoso Jean Rondeau, lyric-coloratura soprano Sabine Devieilhe and cello prodigy Edgar Moreau among the latest signings.

The label’s legacy and continued growth was celebrated this year with a series of 20 milestone reissues, The Erato Story, including the very first release under the green banner: the Pasdeloup Orchestra’s 1953 Charpentier Te Deum, an obscure rarity turned surprise hit that propelled Erato to the forefront of the burgeoning early music revival.

Classica magazine stated: “Last year we announced that with the release of Philippe Jaroussky’s Porpora, the company that for 50 years (1953-2001) proudly represented the legacy of French artists all over the world was reborn at the heart of the Warner group, taking the place of Virgin Classics.

“Under the leadership of Alain Lanceron, numerous Erato releases have graced these pages since last summer, including such exceptional additions to the catalogue as Stella di Napoli from the mezzo Joyce DiDonato, dedicated to Neapolitan repertoire, or the splendid Darius Milhaud boxed set. Well-deserved ‘Chocs’ and encouragement to this young label with a long history and a clairvoyant approach to spotting talent.”

The Classica awards ceremony will take place in Paris on 2 December. Warner Classics also claims a prestigious Choc de l’Année for its Maria Callas Remastered Edition.

The acquisition in 2013 of Parlophone Label Group, including the renowned EMI Classics and Virgin Classics labels (now Warner Classics and Erato respectively), has seen a renewed focus on classical music within the company. Lanceron will lead Warner Classics’ creative direction, overseeing A&R and global catalogue development, as well as directing local French catalogue development from Warner's Paris offices.

Lanceron, a chevalier in the Order of la Légion d’Honneur, the National Order of Merit and the Order of Arts and Letters, joined Warner Music Group following the PLG acquisition, having previously served as President of Virgin Classics and Director of EMI Classics France. "With the Warner Classics leadership team confirmed and our reinvigorated worldwide network in place, we can now truly unlock the potential created by combining these two extraordinary classical catalogues," he said.

"The depth and richness of the music we represent only fuels our ambition to sign and develop more remarkable artists and continue to innovate around their work to ensure that Warner is synonymous with the greatest classical music of yesterday, today and tomorrow."

Lanceron’s senior management team includes Jean-Philippe Rolland, today announced as Executive Vice President, International A&R and Business Development, Markus Petersen, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing and Operations and Bertrand Castellani, Vice President, International Catalogue. Dividing his time between London and Paris, Rolland will focus on signing and nurturing the most exciting artists from around the world. Petersen will be charged with continuing to build out the worldwide infrastructure that supports them as well as delivering high-impact campaigns that bring their music to fans existing and new. Castellani will steer an international catalogue drawn from the rich vaults of EMI Classics, Virgin Classics, Teldec and Erato. An additional key appointment announced today is Patrick Gamblin, who becomes Director of Creative Services.

Recent signings to Warner Classics include opera singers Ailyn Pérez and Stephen Costello, whose debut album is out in May, and the Aurora Orchestra, one of the most creative and innovative ensembles in the music industry today. On Erato, Sabine Devieilhe, Bertrand Chamayou and Edgar Moreau are the latest additions to the roster, with brand new and critically-acclaimed recordings. Forthcoming releases include, amongst many others, albums from Alison Balsom, the John Wilson Orchestra, Joyce DiDonato, Emmanuel Pahud, Philippe Jaroussky and Sir Antonio Pappano. New signings will be announced soon.

Key catalogue releases for 2014 will feature two of the label’s most iconic legacy artists; Herbert von Karajan, with an Official Remastered Edition, and Maria Callas, whose Complete Studio Recordings have been remastered from the original master tapes. These projects represent the very best that anyone has ever heard Maria Callas and Herbert von Karajan on record.

Exciting times ahead.

Following the long-awaited relaunch of the great French label in 2013, the Erato renaissance continues with 20 essential recordings for any collector’s shelf, newly available from a rich catalogue of more than 2,500 titles.

The Erato Story series starts from the very beginning, with the label’s first album now on CD for the first time: Charpentier’s Te Deum. The Pasdeloup Orchestra’s revival of that obscure rarity was a surprise hit that paved the way to Erato’s reputation for historically informed performance, particularly in pioneering recordings that shed light on the French Baroque. This tradition crystallised with the likes of Marc Minkowski’s Rameau (Les Surprises de l’Amour), John Eliot Gardiner in Purcell’s Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary and William Christie’s Mozart Requiem — also part of the Erato Story collection.

The label’s famous finesse attracted such international artists as Mstislav Rostropovich and Daniel Barenboim (the latter as pianist), while a new generation including mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, pianist Hélène Grimaud, violinist Vadim Repin and tenor José Cura launched their careers as part of the Erato firmament.

Erato celebrated its 50^th anniversary in 2013 with a remarkable comeback, welcoming Philippe Jaroussky, Alexandre Tharaud, Emmanuelle Haïm and L’Arpeggiata and others into the fold. The future sounds brighter than ever.

View all 20 titles from the Erato Story here.