Mad about Magnatune

A few weeks ago I learned from the Creative Commons blog about Magnatune, an all-digital recording "label" (somehow that term seems dated in the digisphere) complete with royalty-free webcasting.   Their slogan is "we are not evil" and to back that up they give their artists 50%of the sales proceeds.  I checked it out, expecting some do-it-yourself garage recordings of music not quite ready for a "real" record deal, but it turns out they are very picky and I've yet to hear something that wasn't great.  Yesterday I found an entire Handel opera, Tamerlano, by the English Concert (no, they spell it that way).  Most people, when they think of Handel, think of the Messiah first and then maybe watermusic and then they are vaguely aware of other choral works.  I got into the operas when the San Francisco opera did Julius Caeser in 2001, and it was so exquisite that last year I went to hear Alcina and again was floored.  Handel's operas aren't recorded much (there are only a few world class countertenors and I guess they are busy) and when you can even find a recording it ain't cheap, even on eBay.   So finding this on Magnatune is a real treat, and there's lots more there that looks equally delicious.   Yummm.   Check it out.