Hyperion Label

[Madiel]

Ah, I knew it would get bumped eventually...

Honestly, I am such a huge Hyperion fan. Partly that's because I became enraptured by Domus performing Faure, but even before that I had the Faure piano music (Kathryn Stott) and had heard the Shostakovich Preludes and Fugues performed by Nikolayeva (which I now also own).

I think the discs are highly attractive for several reasons. Nice artwork and general presentation, often very good liner notes (almost insanely detailed in the case of all the Lieder and Melodies overseen by Johnson as pianist), pretty consistent recording quality. For me, their strong focus on chamber music is also highly appealing. I suspect they don't have a large proportion of orchestral releases compared to the bigger labels, but with smaller forces they clearly know what they are doing and can keep repeating the good results.

They're just about the only label whose name specifically gets my attention. Maybe BIS as well, but in most other cases it's a particular artist that I'm drawn towards, not the record company.

Also, a massive round of applause for their website, which is far easier to navigate than most (meaningful indexes! working search engine! HYPERLINKS!!!) and provides PDF copies of all the CD booklets. These are a godsend. I go to them for information on music I'm listening to when I don't have a Hyperion release... and inevitably, being on the site draws my attention to Hyperion releases. I don't think enough companies realise just how much goodwill can be generated by having a genuinely useful website.

[North Star]

Ah, I knew it would get bumped eventually...

Honestly, I am such a huge Hyperion fan.
I think the discs are highly attractive for several reasons.  ...

Agreed with everything (well, except I don't own those recordings you mention - I will want to get them eventually, bien sûr.
You knew of this thread, but didn't do it yourself?

[Madiel]

Agreed with everything (well, except I don't own those recordings you mention - I will want to get them eventually, bien sûr.
You knew of this thread, but didn't do it yourself?

I only knew about it after Octave mentioned it on the New Purchases thread, where I'd had my Hyperion binge.

[North Star]

I only knew about it after Octave mentioned it on the New Purchases thread, where I'd had my Hyperion binge.

Finally, the pieces are falling into place. 

[Octave]

[Octave]

I'd really appreciate some recommendations for items from the ENGLISH ORPHEUS SERIES.
I've actually had a hard time finding a complete (afaik) listing of the whole series, but there seem to be two ways to browse:
1. 'Orpheus' keyword search at Hyperion website (includes a a handful of clearly non-EO releases, but it's easy to browse...not sure how many items are missing, if any)
2. A nice, neat incomplete list from the Parley of Instruments website, which does not include non-POI installments, but you can see the volume numbers and basic personnel/info, with links back to Hyperion HQ.

Hyperion HQ confirmed by email that they knew of no real alternative to these methods, with the best of both.

I have the Matthew Locke BROKEN CONSORT, John Blow ANTHEMS (my introduction to Robin Blaze), and Avison's CONCERTI GROSSI.

[Mirror Image]

and provides PDF copies of all the CD booklets. These are a godsend. I go to them for information on music I'm listening to when I don't have a Hyperion release... and inevitably, being on the site draws my attention to Hyperion releases. I don't think enough companies realise just how much goodwill can be generated by having a genuinely useful website.

Of course, providing the booklets in PDF is nothing new as Chandos has been doing it for years.

[mc ukrneal]

Of course, providing the booklets in PDF is nothing new as Chandos has been doing it for years.

Although I am happy to have them electronically (and my enthusiasm for the label is significantly higher because of it), a lot of their (Chandos) pdf's are poor quality, especially when put side to side with the Hyperion booklets. Most of the Hyperion booklets look as good in electronic format as in real life. I cannot say the same for Chandos. Still, I love that CHandos at least provide them in some form and this doesn't dampen my love for the label. I just wish they put a bit more love into the electronic versions.

[Mirror Image]

Although I am happy to have them electronically (and my enthusiasm for the label is significantly higher because of it), a lot of their (Chandos) pdf's are poor quality, especially when put side to side with the Hyperion booklets. Most of the Hyperion booklets look as good in electronic format as in real life. I cannot say the same for Chandos. Still, I love that Chandos at least provide them in some form and this doesn't dampen my love for the label. I just wish they put a bit more love into the electronic versions.

Of course, the older Chandos recordings aren't kept up with and do have poorer quality PDFs, but the newer recordings, especially around 2000 and up look good to me and printed out on a high quality printer on some semi-glossy paper and you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between the original print and the PDF I printed out.

[mc ukrneal]

Of course, the older Chandos recordings aren't kept up with and do have poorer quality PDFs, but the newer recordings, especially around 2000 and up look good to me and printed out on a high quality printer on some semi-glossy paper and you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between the original print and the PDF I printed out.

Well, just taking whatever appears on the frontpage of the website, compare:
http://www.chandos.net/pdf/CHAN%2010764.pdf
http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/notes/68026-B.pdf

The Chandos doesn't look anywhere near as nice, and these are both recent releases.

[Mirror Image]

Well, just taking whatever appears on the frontpage of the website, compare:
http://www.chandos.net/pdf/CHAN%2010764.pdf
http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/notes/68026-B.pdf

The Chandos doesn't look anywhere near as nice, and these are both recent releases.

I can understand your point here and I agree this Hyperion booklet does look better, but I'm not crazy about the way Chandos have been presenting their liner notes anyway and that Britten booklet is a bit of a hack job IMHO. Anyway, my whole point in even mentioning Chandos in the first place was to point out that Chandos has been offering PDFs, regardless of the quality, for a long time and that Hyperion weren't the only company doing this. I believe sometimes even the LSO's label offers PDFs now and the Philharmonia Orchestra as well. I'm not sure about any other label.

[Mirror Image]

Here's a recent release on the Signum label that looks quite good (to me):

http://www.signumrecords.com/products/booklets/SIGCD372booklet.pdf

[Ken B]

I can understand your point here and I agree this Hyperion booklet does look better, but I'm not crazy about the way Chandos have been presenting their liner notes anyway and that Britten booklet is a bit of a hack job IMHO. Anyway, my whole point in even mentioning Chandos in the first place was to point out that Chandos has been offering PDFs, regardless of the quality, for a long time and that Hyperion weren't the only company doing this. I believe sometimes even the LSO's label offers PDFs now and the Philharmonia Orchestra as well. I'm not sure about any other label.

I think HM and Brilliant for a longish time.

[Mirror Image]

I think HM and Brilliant for a longish time.

Harmonia Mundi has some very nice booklets. I really like their designs.

[Madiel]

Although I am happy to have them electronically (and my enthusiasm for the label is significantly higher because of it), a lot of their (Chandos) pdf's are poor quality, especially when put side to side with the Hyperion booklets. Most of the Hyperion booklets look as good in electronic format as in real life. I cannot say the same for Chandos. Still, I love that CHandos at least provide them in some form and this doesn't dampen my love for the label. I just wish they put a bit more love into the electronic versions.

+1

I do also go to Chandos sometimes for that reason, and I'm also aware that some other companies do the same. I wasn't suggesting that Hyperion doing it was somehow unique.  But Hyperion does do it particularly well, and even on some older releases where they effectively apologise for the quality of the PDF, it's actually rather good.

[king ubu]

Is this the proper place to ask regarding the 25% reduction Hyperion is offering on their bestselling 2014 releases right now (and until Dec 18)?

http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/o.asp?o=1041&vw=dc&utm_medium=DM&utm_source=DM&dm_i=10ZR,2Z7M0,BITOKI,AQ57Z,1

I do have the Hamelin/Busoni set and the Prokofiev sonatas by Ibragimova - not spent nearly enough time with both, but both seem to be pretty good. The ones I'm interested in are the Dussek concertos by Shelley and the one right on top by Carolyn Sampson. If anyone already posted their impressions on these here, please direct me there!

[mc ukrneal]

Is this the proper place to ask regarding the 25% reduction Hyperion is offering on their bestselling 2014 releases right now (and until Dec 18)?

http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/o.asp?o=1041&vw=dc&utm_medium=DM&utm_source=DM&dm_i=10ZR,2Z7M0,BITOKI,AQ57Z,1

I do have the Hamelin/Busoni set and the Prokofiev sonatas by Ibragimova - not spent nearly enough time with both, but both seem to be pretty good. The ones I'm interested in are the Dussek concertos by Shelley and the one right on top by Carolyn Sampson. If anyone already posted their impressions on these here, please direct me there!

I've ordered the Dussek and will try to give you my impressions as soon as it arrives.

[king ubu]

Thanks! I guess I'll go for it anyways, and find something to add to ther order to make sense wrt shipping costs. Don't have all that much from this label so far - but love the Händel arias disc by Alice Coote! Too bad that one's not a best-seller, it really should be!

[Pat B]

Thanks! I guess I'll go for it anyways, and find something to add to ther order to make sense wrt shipping costs. Don't have all that much from this label so far - but love the Händel arias disc by Alice Coote! Too bad that one's not a best-seller, it really should be!

I've probably heard 20 or so of their releases -- I'm sure others have heard much more. Their standards seem as high as anybody's.

I think they deserve respect for their ambitious catalog, and also for handling, as far as I can tell, a series of unfortunate incidents as well as could be expected. They seem like they're among the good guys, certainly by record-label standards, if that matters to you.

[mc ukrneal]

One of my favorite labels- their series are usually top notch, as are their soloists/ensembles. And the repetoire is very different from most. Out of the many Hyperion discs that I own, I cannot think of a true dud. If you are in the US, Berkshire are easily the cheapest source at $6.99 per single disc (exlcudes boxes). If you are looking for recommendations, just let us know (and the repetoire that most interests you).