Classical music — both Indian and Western — belongs on vinyl. The dynamic range, the subtle harmonic interplay, the breath of a live performance: all these qualities are most faithfully reproduced on the original analogue format these recordings were mastered for. Calcutta Records stocks Indian classical music from the HMV Calcutta vault alongside Western orchestral and chamber recordings from Columbia, HMV, Deutsche Grammophon, and more. Browse our English vinyl and Hindi vinyl sections for classical recordings.

Popular Classical Artists at Calcutta Records

Ravi Shankar  |  Ali Akbar Khan  |  Bismillah Khan  |  Hariprasad Chaurasia  |  Zakir Hussain  |  M.S. Subbulakshmi  |  Beethoven  |  Mozart

Browse Classical Music by Tradition

  • Hindustani Classical — Sitar, sarod, table, bansuri — the North Indian tradition from Ravi Shankar to Ali Akbar Khan
  • Carnatic Classical — M.S. Subbulakshmi, Lalgudi Jayaraman — the South Indian tradition
  • Dhrupad & Khayal — The oldest forms of Indian classical vocal music
  • Western Orchestral — Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Mahler — the European symphonic tradition
  • Chamber Music — String quartets, piano trios — intimate Western classical
  • Western Vocal — Opera, art songs, choral music on vinyl

Latest Classical Vinyl Records

Why Collect Classical Vinyl Records in India?

For Indian classical music, vinyl is often the primary archive. The HMV Calcutta recordings of Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan from the 1950s and 60s are historical documents as much as musical recordings — and the vinyl captures the sound of those studio sessions with a directness that later digital transfers cannot always match.

Many serious Indian classical collectors seek out the original HMV India pressings specifically because the mastering was done by engineers who understood the music and its sonic requirements. A Ravi Shankar HMV pressing from 1962 is not just a collectible — it is the definitive version of that recording. See also our guide: Best Classical Vinyl Records for New Collectors.

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