The label audite was founded in Stuttgart in Southern Germany in the late 1970s. Based in Detmold, with rootes in the bavarian broadcast station, audite operates with a team of committed and highly qualified, permanent staff. From the outset, the policy of making available to a broad public outstanding interpretations of noteworthy repertoire at the highest possible quality has been central to the work and public perception. Initially, audite predominantly issued live recordings of the Symphonies by Gustav Mahler with Rafael Kubelik and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra: even today these recordings rate amongst the most exceptional interpretations of these works.

audite is, in every aspect, oriented towards high quality. Repertoire, interpretation, choice of venue, sound design, superior packaging and booklet note – the successful synthesis of all these factors results in the individual, extraordinary recordings which are so characteristic of audite. This success is reflected, not least of all, in the positive echo of international reviews, numerous recording prizes as well as the interest of the musical public. All aspirations towards quality always have one aim: to create the basis for a musical and emotional experience in its best possible form, to make music of the highest quality available as a personal, creative listening experience.

The label’s active catalogue comprises around 300 titles: each month, audite present one to two new releases. audite issues product in SACD (5.1.surround), CD and LP formats; downloads and video trailers are also integral components of the releases. This diversity of formats is typical of the label, as is the focus on two principal areas of activity: historic archive productions and new releases, the latter normally on SACD format. These two strands cross-fertilise each other, for interpretations become perceptible in the context of their development. Many years of experience and the sheer number, as well as the quality, of our releases in both areas make this combination unique, not only within Germany but also internationally.