A lavish recording of Henry Purcell's masterpiece Hail! Bright Cecilia, performed by French ensemble Le Poème Harmonique and conductor Vincent Dumestre, has finally hit our ears. The album's celebratory ode to St Cecilia, patron saint of music, is a dazzling display of musical virtuosity that sets the bar high for British composers.
Composed in 1692, Hail! Bright Cecilia is a stirring work that teems with allusions to musical instruments and features an impressive array of arias, duets, and choruses. Dumestre's masterful direction brings out the full range of Purcell's imagination, from the sprightly violins and cooing flutes to the martial kettledrums.
The recording boasts felicitous detail and theatrical flair, with each instrument adding its own distinct voice to the ensemble. British tenor Hugo Hymas shines as a special pleasure, his light-as-a-feather tone perfectly complemented by imaginative word-painting. The rest of the soloists deliver commendable English accents, while Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian's fruity countertenor adds depth and nuance to tracks like In Vain the Am'rous Flute.
Vlad Crosman's portrayal of Wondrous Machine! John Blow's tuneful Welcome, Every Guest is a zesty bonus, recorded complete for the first time. Overall, this luxurious recording is a must-listen for fans of Baroque music, offering an unparalleled level of musical sophistication and flair.
Composed in 1692, Hail! Bright Cecilia is a stirring work that teems with allusions to musical instruments and features an impressive array of arias, duets, and choruses. Dumestre's masterful direction brings out the full range of Purcell's imagination, from the sprightly violins and cooing flutes to the martial kettledrums.
The recording boasts felicitous detail and theatrical flair, with each instrument adding its own distinct voice to the ensemble. British tenor Hugo Hymas shines as a special pleasure, his light-as-a-feather tone perfectly complemented by imaginative word-painting. The rest of the soloists deliver commendable English accents, while Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian's fruity countertenor adds depth and nuance to tracks like In Vain the Am'rous Flute.
Vlad Crosman's portrayal of Wondrous Machine! John Blow's tuneful Welcome, Every Guest is a zesty bonus, recorded complete for the first time. Overall, this luxurious recording is a must-listen for fans of Baroque music, offering an unparalleled level of musical sophistication and flair.
... like when Vincent Dumestre brings out that full range of Purcell's imagination. It's like he's saying, 'Hey, music isn't just about notes on a page, it's about feeling the emotions behind them.' And you know what? I think we could all learn from that in our own lives - take the time to feel the emotions, to connect with people on a deeper level. Don't just focus on the surface stuff 
...
. But seriously, who knew Henry Purcell was still a thing? Like, I know his stuff is fancy and all, but some of these recordings can be super long. Are we really gonna have to sit through an hour of Baroque goodness? 
Still, if it's Le Poème Harmonique and Vincent Dumestre behind the scenes, I'm intrigued... their attention to detail sounds top-notch! And who cares about British accents when you've got that Hugo Hymas tenor sounding like butter? 
. And Hugo Hymas as the British tenor? Unbeatable, mate! His voice is like butter for your ears 
. I'm also a big fan of Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian's countertenor – it adds such depth to the tracks. The way they all come together is just perfection. If you're into Baroque music, you need to get this album ASAP! 
. The way all the instruments come together to create this lush sound is just magic. It's not surprising they're calling it luxurious - it really feels like a special treat for fans of Baroque music 
. Definitely worth checking out if you haven't already!
hugh hymas as the tenor tho... his voice is silky smooth like honey 
anyone else got this album yet??
le poème harmonique totally killed it! the way they brought out the instruments' individuality was insane 
and hugo hymas's tone is just... heaven 
but what really got me was how dumestre made purcell's music feel fresh & modern again – it's like a breath of air 
And the way Dumestre brings out Purcell's imagination is like a breath of fresh air. Each instrument sounds so distinct and special in its own way. It's really bringing the Baroque era to life for me 
. I'm definitely adding this one to my playlist ASAP - highly recommend it to anyone who loves period music! 
Hugo Hymas is seriously impressive too, his tone is like butter for your ears. And Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian's countertenor adds this whole new level of depth to the music. Can't wait to listen to it on repeat! 
the soloists are on point esp Hugo Hymas, his tone is like butter for the soul