Label news: Hyperion goes vinyl
NewsStarting with the 1982 best-seller A Feather on the Breath of God, the south London boutique label is bringing back some of its iconic hits on long-playing vinyl, it was rolled out today.
Along with Hildergard of Bingen, the first releases will be:
Angela Hewitt’s 2015 Bach Goldberg Variations (2LP set)
Alina Ibragimova’s Mendelssohn Violin Concerto – Paired with his early D minor Violin Concerto, and performed with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment under Vladimir Jurowski,
Sir Stephen Hough’s Complete Chopin Waltzes –
Marc-André Hamelin’s Shostakovich Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 2, with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and conductor Andrew Litton
Very interesting. Just as long as the pressings are made from the original probably 1/4” magnetic tape (via soft vinyl, mother, stampers) and not from a later, CD source.
I’m fairly certain these will all be digitally sourced. Even the Hildegard was digitally recorded way back in 1981. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the vinyl edition will suffer if the mastering is done well. I’m excited for this album specifically! Not much interest in the others, although I do like both of Hewitt’s Goldberg recordings.
I think the point La Plus Belle is making is that the presumed benefits of an analogue recording just aren’t there if what you’re getting is an analogue by-product of a digital original.
Unlikely. I would think. Most of today’s vinyl reissues come from digital masters or at least include a digigital stage.
Would not say the Chopin Waltzes were best representation of Stephen Hough
Would not say Stephen Hough is the best representation of Stephen Hough.
What is that supposed to mean?
It is some people opinion that vinyl being objectively lower performing than digital is not the right medium for Classical Mudic
I’ve never understood the nostalgia for vinyl; the loss of surface noise, etc., in digital formats far outweighs — for me — any claims of coldness or brittleness in the digital product (especially after the upgrades from the bit resolution and digitization rate of the early CD years).
I understand that DJs want vinyl to drop a needle onto here or there at will, or to drag the needle across a record to make scratchy sounds, but that seems like a rather, shall we say, peripheral use of the vinyl medium…
Have you ever made an A/B-comparison vinyl vs. CD/SACD? You will immediately notice the difference. You will immediately prefer the sound of vinyl to CD or even SACD. Because it sounds better, because it sounds more natural. No matter if your ear is trained (e.g. if you´re musician / if you´re in the audio industry / if you listen to music since many decades) or not. No matter if you listen to classical music, jazz or rock. No matter if it´s a 1950s recording or a brand new release. Even no matter if the recording itself is digital or analog!! Just forget the specifications, but trust your ear!
Cheers!
Excellent news for us vinyl aficionados.
My Linn LP12 will be looking forward to revolving a Hyperion.
The price of an LP12 in Australia varies from about AUD$7,000 at entry level to AUD$48,000. I’d rather spend that kind of money on FLAC downloads at about AUD$20.00 a pop. They don’t require expensive storage and they never crackle or pop.
Just listened to Goldberg Variations (Hewitt) and Shostakovich Piano Concertos (Hamelin). The sound quality of these vinyls is amazing, fresh, full-bodied, with great dynamics. The presentation in gatefold sleeves is wonderful, too. Both records deserve a good cleaning to remove some static cracking here and there. Highest.recommendation for these new Hyperion vinyls!
It will be interesting to see how many LPs they sell, as vinyl addicts generally prefer Dad rock or Taylor Swift.
I wonder if there is a market for fake but expensive-looking turntables with high quality streamers and/or digital audio file playback equipment hidden inside?
Frankly ludicrous. Vinyl was always the worst medium for classical music and particularly piano recordings.
Either you haven´t ever listened to vinyl and just repeat what some people say or you have listened only to bad vinyl copies from the fleemarket. There are so many piano recordings which sound so much better on vinyl than on CD. Listen to the Beethoven Concertos Zimerman / Rattle on DG, Mozart Piano Concertos 21 & 24 Istomin on Reference Recordings or the DG Duo recording of Helene Grimaud and Sol Gabetta on vinyl and you will to throw your CD in to the bin – or at least sell it or give it to your friends! Music lovers buy vinyl not because they are nostalgic, but because it sounds significantly better than any other medium.
Medtner Piano Concertos/Demidenko
Please Hyperion.
The superb “A Feather on the Breath of God” deserves an excellent treatment supervised by Tony Faulkner, the original recording man on the release. If I recall correctly, it is a 2 mic recording. Much anticipated here for sure.
Wait… So we’re gonna make more plastic stuff now? I thought we were all about reduce, reuse, recycle, but here we are in the wireless, digital age making more future trash. Great job, music-people – you’re the smartest!