Customer Reviews

The Essential Hyperion (Label Highlight Compilation)

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What a brilliant idea from one of our leading record companies! On this disc, they have assembled a programme of highlights from their vast collection of choral, vocal, orchestral, and solo instrumental music that is very satisfying. As with most CDs of this sort, it is a case of some tracks not appealing as much as others- I for instance am a lover of choral music so the gorgeous renditions of Stanford's "Magnificat" by St. Paul's Cathedral Choir or John Sheppard's divine motet "Libera Nos" by the Sixteen are obvious preferences of mine. However, whether you seek dyed-in-the-wool orchestral classics as Haydn's "Surprise" Symphony, less familiar works performed by period artists (such as "'E irei Madr'a Vigo" by ancient Spanish composer Martin Codax), or snippets of breathtaking instrumental solos (such as the rousing performance of Lefebure-Wely's "Sortie in E flat" which is sadly only an excerpt), this disc is bound to have something on it for you. And all of it is finely recorded.

If I had to choose one CD to spend a month locked in isolation with, this would be the one. Its varied but it flows well together. It's restive and soothing. The quality is beyond excellent!!! At the price, anyone is a fool not to own it, and give it lavishly as gifts. Its gorgeous, lush and fabulous! Everyone that hears it in our home, falls in love with it!

Rarely can one buy so much good music for so little. This compilation features almost 80 minutes of high quality music.

Though the years I had a certain soft spot for a particular artists whose recordings I would collect. Than I noticed that even recording labels have strong appeal - and one of the most desirable became british "Hyperion" named after a Titan in greek mythology. (No wonder,as I grew up with greek mythology)

"Hyperion" started as independent company in 1980 and quickly established its name by some of highly unusual and brilliant recordings of which probably the most impressive was 1984 album of music by Abbess Hildegard of Bingen titled "A Feather On The Breath Of God" and that was really ground-breaking hit that put "Hyperion" on the world map. I loved that album forever,not really knowing at that time anything about little recording company that focused its attention to less-known and neglected pieces far from usual crowd pleasing repertoire. People from "Hyperion" always made a point of looking deep in the corners to find something interesting,not to mention a stunning list or artists who recorded for them,it seems that it became a question of prestige to work with "Hyperion". Thanks to "Gramophone" who was championing and showering them with awards left and right, I eventually became enthralled with "Hyperion" enough to start collecting their albums whenever I could - in these days when CD shops are disappearing it became a bit difficult but everytime I visit UK,I make a point of buying several "Hyperion" releases,they always made me happy - in fact,i now came to the point when "Hyperion" label is a recommendation in itself.

This generous CD is a perfect introduction to "Hyperion" catalogue and I could easily recommend it to anybody without reservations.
From Purcell to Erik Satie, from sacred music by 16. century giants to Franz Liszt, from joyful "Phil the fluter's Ball" to Boccherini this is just a pure pleasure. I often find myself enjoying these various selection because of the eccentric choice assembled - since music jumps from one century to another, it avoids repetitive atmosphere and it simply floats around nicely.

A double CD with a wide range of pieces,some unfamiliar.Handel's "Utrecht Te Deum",Georgy Catoire's "Loin du foyer",Georgy Sviridov's "Sacred Love",Sidney Jones's "Happy Japan"(from "The Geisha",an 1896 smash hit),two pieces from Renaissance Italy by Biagio Marini,an excerpt from Hamish MacCunn's "The Lay of the Last Minstrel".Again it must be stressed that these are only short extracts from works.Altogether 51 in two and a half hours of listening.It does what it set out to do.Namely to encourage you to buy the full work(s)

I like only two songs because they were from the Baroque, the others were just a waste, it started promising but it ends in disillusion.