Conductor Vincent Dumestre's Le Poème Harmonique brings to life Henry Purcell's timeless masterpiece 'Hail! Bright Cecilia' with unparalleled elegance and finesse. This sumptuous recording showcases Purcell's boundless creativity as he wove an intricate tapestry of musical allusions, from the organ to various instruments, in a spirited ode to St Cecilia, patroness of music.
Dumestre's masterful hand guides his ensemble through an array of luminous arias, duets, and choruses that radiate sprightly energy, courtesy of agile violins, soft flutes, and triumphant kettledrums. The addition of harp to the continuo and richly textured woodwind further enriches this lavish account, infusing each movement with felicitous detail and theatrical flair.
British tenor Hugo Hymas shines in the lead role, his ethereal voice complemented by ingenious word-painting that transports listeners to a world of musical fantasy. The supporting cast delivers equally impressive performances, with Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian's luscious countertenor and Vlad Crosman's awestruck timbre evoking the very essence of Purcell's compositions.
The inclusion of John Blow's 'Welcome, Every Guest', recorded for the first time in its entirety, serves as a welcome bonus, injecting an invigorating dose of zesty energy into this already captivating disc. With Le Poème Harmonique and Dumestre at the helm, 'Hail! Bright Cecilia' takes on a life of its own, inviting listeners to immerse themselves in Purcell's glorious world of music.
Dumestre's masterful hand guides his ensemble through an array of luminous arias, duets, and choruses that radiate sprightly energy, courtesy of agile violins, soft flutes, and triumphant kettledrums. The addition of harp to the continuo and richly textured woodwind further enriches this lavish account, infusing each movement with felicitous detail and theatrical flair.
British tenor Hugo Hymas shines in the lead role, his ethereal voice complemented by ingenious word-painting that transports listeners to a world of musical fantasy. The supporting cast delivers equally impressive performances, with Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian's luscious countertenor and Vlad Crosman's awestruck timbre evoking the very essence of Purcell's compositions.
The inclusion of John Blow's 'Welcome, Every Guest', recorded for the first time in its entirety, serves as a welcome bonus, injecting an invigorating dose of zesty energy into this already captivating disc. With Le Poème Harmonique and Dumestre at the helm, 'Hail! Bright Cecilia' takes on a life of its own, inviting listeners to immerse themselves in Purcell's glorious world of music.
vincent dumestre is a genius conductor and his ensemble brings so much life to purcell's music. hugo hymas as st cecilia is just perfection, his voice is like butter for ur soul 
and the harp addition is pure magic 
i love how they included john blow's welcome every guest, it's like a little bonus treat 
what's ur favorite movement from this album? 
. And that harp addition? GAME CHANGER 
. Hugo Hymas as Cecilia is ABSOLUTE PERFECTION 
. Can't wait to LISTEN TO IT AGAIN!
... I mean, think about it - they're just now recording Henry Purcell's 'Hail! Bright Cecilia' in its entirety? That's like finding a lost treasure, right? And who's behind this? The orchestral world is full of money and power, you know... Maybe Le Poème Harmonique is more than just a musical group - maybe it's a front for something bigger 
. And have you seen the lineup for this album? Hugo Hymas, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian... these guys are all connected to the music elite somehow. It's like they're pulling off some kind of orchestrated (heh) musical coup 
.
. I'm also loving how they included John Blow's "Welcome, Every Guest" - it's like a little bonus gift 
It's a tall order, but I think Dumestre and his crew have pulled it off with flying colours 
. And can we talk about that bonus track from John Blow? That was the icing on the cake 
! But let's be real, some of those parts are gonna take a while to get used to – too much going on at once 
. Still, I'd totally listen to this album on repeat for days 
.
. can't get enough of this beautiful record, makes me wanna throw a party to celebrate music 
this record is giving me life 
The addition of harp to the continuo is genius, adds such depth and texture to the music 
I mean, have you listened to 'Welcome, Every Guest' by John Blow? That's a game changer 
It's amazing how Le Poème Harmonique brings all these classic pieces back to life with such finesse and flair 
but what really made me go wow was that it included John Blow's "Welcome, Every Guest" for the first time ever 
. And Hugo Hymas, wow! His voice is so ethereal, I feel like I'm floating on air 
This ensemble absolutely nails it! The way they weave together all these different instruments is pure magic 
. I love that they included John Blow's 'Welcome, Every Guest' too, it's like the icing on the cake! 
I'm totally going to listen to this album on repeat all day long 
And can we talk about Hugo Hymas' voice? It's like butter, smooth and rich. I love how the harp adds this extra layer of depth to the music too.