I'm glad that someone started this thread . . . .
Naxos is a company that produces recordings of classical music. In fact, they claim to be the premier classical music label in the world. Or something like that. They sell their products on
their own website and also through resellers.
If you sign up for Naxos' free newsletter, you'll receive an offer of one
free album download each month. That's right, one whole album!
This month is the 125th anniversary of Prokofiev's birth (frankly, I had forgotten all about it. I'm so ashamed!
ha), so Naxos is offering your choice of three different Prokofiev albums in order to celebrate, or commemorate, or something that occasion. Here are the choices:
Piano Concerto Nos. 2 and 5
String Quartets Nos. 1 and 2 / Cello Sonata
Alexander Nevsky / Lieutenant Kije Suite
I would give you a webpage that tells a lot about these, but it looks like it won't open without having an email address on file with Naxos.
These are all in the flac format. I am not knowledgeable about such things, but if memory serves me correctly, this is a very high quality format--CD quality or maybe better.
One caveat. I was already on Naxos' mailing list. Even so, I found there to be a definite frustration factor in getting everything set up. Among other issues, you have to download a proprietary player for the music. But once you get set up, I doubt that it will be much trouble to download an album each month (I don't know for sure because I just learned about the program (it may have just begun this month, for that matter) and downloaded my first album). You might want to peruse Naxos' "Free Album Offer Guide," which is a step-by-step guide of what you have to do to get your
free download using a desktop computer.
If I haven't scared you off, here is
the webpage where you can learn more about the benefits of being on their newsletter mailing list, and which provides a link to sign up for the newsletter.