Discos Qualiton was a record label, published by the extinct recording studio Fonema S.A. A garage experiment born in Rosario, Argentina in 1961, Qualiton would later became a major independent project influencing a generation of artists, writers, musicians, poets and filmmakers.
The first attempts by Nelson Montes-Bradley and Ivan Cosentino to produce and publish vinyl records in Argentina was made under the umbrella of Fondo Cultural, a firm based in Rosario, and incorporated in Buenos Aires. Fondo Cultural resorted to the use of the name Qualiton, which eventually led to the establishment of a close relationship with the homonymous Qualiton of Hungary, the state owned record company during the Communist years.
Joaquín Rodrigo's "Cantares de los pajes de la nao" by the Coro Estable de Rosario, conducted by Cristián Hernández Larguía, was Qualiton's first recording in 1961. Soon, the idea of producing other choruses became a perfect venue to establish the company in the local arena. Editions of no more than 300 LPs, were being quickly absorbed amongst the members of the chorus ensemble and their close relatives. By 1965, the early catalog of Discos Qualiton produced by Fondo Cultural, was beginning to develop into a greater ordeal. Fondo Cultural became extinct and Fonema incorporated thus allowing Nora Raffo and Carlos Melero, newest members of the Qualiton team, to joined in the corporation.
The following Fonema years, were mostly but not exclusively dedicated to produce classical music with a particular emphasis in baroque and colonial periods in Latin America under its Qualiton label. Also worth mentioning are the recordings of ethnographic music harvested in the field and gathered under the label Serie del Conocimiento and the unique recordings of literary works known as Juglaría.
By the late 1960s the record label had already relocated from Rosario to Buenos Aires, and expanded its catalog. New investors were seduced by the idea of creating a major independent label. Curt von Simpson and Gertrudis Moser joined Fonema executive leadership providing the needed contacts with local banks (namely Banco Oddone). During this period of expansion Take One, a state-of-the-arts 24-channel recording studio was built to specs. Take one, which would eventually become a landmark of the record industry was located at Fonema's HQ on Perú 375 in Buenos Aires Historical District known as Montserrat The original concept of a small and family orientated garage experiment born in Rosario, had grown out of proportion. However, by 1976, a military putsch, led by Jorge Rafael Videla, ousted Argentine president Isabel Perón making life quite difficult for the arts at large, and in particular for domestic labels linked to the previous years of social unrest. The final days of Discos Qualiton came about in 1978.
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