The Best Classical Music Streaming Services
Looking for the best way to stream classical music? We’ve got you covered, with a list of the best classical music streaming services out there.
Introduction
Classical music is a genre of music that broadly encompasses music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western classical music. It commonly refers to art music that is intended for performance by trained classical musicians in a concert setting, as opposed to popular or folk music. While a more precise term is also used to refer to the period from 1750 to 1820 (the Classical period), this article is about the broad span of time from before the 6th century AD to the present day, which includes the Classical period and various other periods. The central norms of this tradition became codified between 1550 and 1900, which is known as the common-practice period.
Naxos Music Library
Naxos Music Library is an online streaming service specializing in classical music. There are over one million tracks available on the site, making it one of the largest classical music libraries in the world. You can access Naxos Music Library from any computer or mobile device with an internet connection.
The site offers a variety of subscription options, including a monthly plan, a yearly plan, and a student discount plan. The monthly plan gives you unlimited streaming access to the entire Naxos Music Library for $9.99 per month. The yearly plan is $99 per year and gives you unlimited streaming access to the entire Naxos Music Library for 12 months. The student discount plan is $4.99 per month and gives you unlimited streaming access to the entire Naxos Music Library for 6 months.
Naxos Music Library offers a wide variety of classical music, from Baroque to Contemporary, and everything in between. You can browse the site by composer, performer, instrument, genre, or era. You can also create your own custom playlists and listen to radio stations based on your favorite composers, performers, or genres.
In addition to streaming music, Naxos Music Library also offers a variety of educational resources, including biographies of composers and performers, liner notes for recordings, and educational articles about classical music.
Primephonic
Primephonic is a relative newcomer to the streaming music service space, having only launched in 2018. But it’s already made a big splash in the world of classical music, offering high-quality, lossless audio streaming of more than 1 million tracks.
If you’re an audiophile with a taste for classical music, Primephonic is definitely worth checking out. The service offers two tiers of membership: Standard and Premium. Standard members can stream music at up to 320kbps, while Premium members can stream at up to lossless, CD-quality 1411kbps.
In addition to its high-quality audio streams, Primephonic also offers a well-designed mobile app and website that make it easy to find the classical music you’re looking for. The service also offers a “Discover” feature that helps you find new Classical composers and works based on your listening history.
If you’re looking for a top-notch Classical music streaming service, Primephonic should be at the top of your list.
Idagio
Idagio is one of the best classical music streaming services, with over 50,000 tracks and a wide range of available genres. Although it’s not free, it’s very reasonably priced at $9.99 per month, and offers a free trial so you can try it out before you commit. The sound quality is excellent, and there are plenty of options for customization, so you can create the perfect listening experience for yourself.
Qobuz
Qobuz is a French company that offers high-quality music streaming and downloads. It offers a vast catalog of both classic and contemporary classical music, making it a great choice for fans of the genre. The service is available in both France and the UK, and offers a free trial for new users.
Spotify
Operating in 65 countries, Spotify boasts more than 140 million active users and 60 million paying subscribers. The platform offers a vast selection of classical music, with playlists like “Calm Classical” and “Mozart for Baby.” You can also find works by specific composers, like Bach or Beethoven, and browse music by era, from the Baroque period to the 21st century.
Apple Music
Apple Music offers a comprehensive streaming experience for classical music lovers. In addition to a large and growing catalogue of classical music, the service includes access to Beats 1, Apple’s 24/7 live radio station, and expert-curated playlists.
The service boasts an array of features specifically tailored for classical music lovers, including the ability to follow your favorite composers, add works to your personal library, and see detailed information about recordings.
Apple Music is available on iOS and Android devices, as well as Mac and PC desktops. A subscription costs $9.99 per month, or $14.99 for a family plan that allows up to six users to share one account.
Tidal
Tidal is one of the newest streaming services, but it’s quickly become one of the most popular, thanks to its HiFi option that delivers lossless, CD-quality audio. If you’re looking for the best possible sound quality, Tidal is the way to go.
Tidal has two subscription tiers: Premium and HiFi. Premium costs $9.99 per month and gives you access to more than 60 million tracks in standard sound quality (up to 320kbps). HiFi costs $19.99 per month and gives you access to more than 60 million tracks in lossless, CD-quality sound (up to 1,411kbps).
Tidal also offers a 30-day free trial for both its Premium and HiFi plans. So if you’re not sure which plan is right for you, or if you simply want to try out the service before commitiing, be sure to take advantage of the free trial.
