Orfeo (record label)
Orfeo International Music is a German independent classical record label that started in Munich in 1979 (launched in 1980) and has been owned by Naxos since 2015. It was founded by Axel Mehrle and was originally known as Orfeo Classic Records and Music Film GmbH.
Orfeo introduced a tax-deductible investment model and used digital masters pressed with Direct Metal Mastering. CDs began in 1983, and all covers featured a distinctive navy blue border. In 1981, some releases were distributed by EMI and RCA under a five-year deal. From 1981 to 1984, annual revenue grew from about $100,000 to $2 million. In 1985 the company faced serious financial trouble, changed its name to Oro, and filed for bankruptcy.
In May 1985, Frank Mehrle licensed all of Orfeo’s master rights to Dieter Sinn, who created Orfeo International to sell the catalog. Sinn hired many former Orfeo staff and took over international contracts, but high costs and extra funding ruined the finances and halted the label’s promising momentum. In December 1985, F. Axel Mehrle was charged with fraud and embezzlement related to the bankruptcy.
In 2017, some Orfeo records appeared online on qobuz.com. The label has released many classical recordings with renowned conductors and singers, and it runs the Orfeo D’Or sub-label for live archive performances from major festivals and opera houses. It has also released two records with Heinz Ruehmann.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 15:26 (CET).