Classical-only online music store launches

How many nights have you found yourself jonesing for a little of Mendelssohn's "Symphony No. 5" (in D major, natch) only to discover that your download site of choice has a dearth of options for the classical listener? If you've ever found yourself in this admittedly unlikely situation, we may have just the website for you. Passionato, the brainchild of music-industry veteran and former conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, James Glicker, officially launched this week. The site's stated aim is to provide "the world's biggest collection of high-quality classical downloads, first in the UK and later worldwide."

Quality of sound has been a major stumbling block for classical music in the transition to digital formats, so all downloads come in either 320kbps MP3 or FLAC. Every song will be DRM-free, which means that you won't have to have a username and password or other security measures tied to your purchase.

The site currently offers over 18,000 tracks, spanning major classical labels and smaller independent artists. Passionato plans to sign on new artists and labels on a weekly basis. Right now, anyone who signs up will get 10 free tracks, including one 30-minute suite. Although the site is currently UK-only, expect releases in other parts of the world soon.
 
Related links:
Passionato.com
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