Dilettante—a London-based online classical-music site that launched in January 2008—has announced upgrades to its website, which connects performing-arts organizations and musicians with audiences and listeners. Changes include a sitewide search function; an area for members to upload and listen to music; member blogs; classical-music news from selected journalists and bloggers, such as Alex Ross, Jessica Duchen, and NPR; and an events calendar and retail area for purchasing recordings and tickets. As part of the upgrade, the site is partnering with publications such as Gramophone, La Scena Musicale, and Fanfare to repurpose reviews on the site. The site’s new DilettanteRadio function is a pop-out player featuring members’ mp3 files; members can also create playlists of other members’ mp3s. Dilettante has added a series of video tutorials to help users navigate the new site functions. Dilettante’s members and visitors come from more than 100 countries and include large organizations such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra as well as smaller ones like the Barbirolli Quartet.
Posted June 9, 2009
