Hyperion RPC series: possible upcoming release

[Alan Howe]

As for cpo, they are the house label for JPC

Quite so: Also unabhängig bleiben, bitte! Hände weg, Universal!

[eschiss1]

In the sense that the recordings (in particular, those that are -not- of mainstream repertoire) being released in the next few months by Hyperion seem to have been recorded at latest very early last year, before Universal bought Hyperion, it will still be awhile before one can really test that, I suppose.

[semloh]

Good point, Eric. The 'fallout' will surely be long-term.

[Ilja]

The situation is also different because of the way cpo is embedded into Germany's public broadcasting system, and their long-lasting affiliation with its orchestras (and others beside).

I have to say I don't hold much hope regarding Hyperion; these days Universal aren't even releasing all that much on their major labels and seem mainly content to milk their back catalogue.

[Gareth Vaughan]

Universal is the kiss of death to recorded classical music - at least, of the unexplored nature which this forum is all about. As for Hyperion under Universal: sic transit gloria mundi.

[Mark Thomas]

Vale atque vale indeed. Heigh ho. Even "golden ages" have to end sometime.

[Darrel Hoffman]

I think there's also the issue of them needing new performers.  Howard Shelley, who performed the majority of those albums, is I'm pretty sure essentially retired at this point?

[eschiss1]

Strictly speaking, perhaps a plurality (23 of 87). Piers Lane and some of the others are still active, I believe, but your point has merit...

When did Shelley essentially-retire? He recorded the most recent recording, of those that he participated in, in the RPC series in December 2022 (and he was performing as recently as last month).

[Darrel Hoffman]

It came up in a discussion on my most recent video, of the Cipriani Potter #3 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9HxbHn14kk).  Shelley recorded his #2 and #4, but the manuscript for #3 needed some cleanup, which may be why he didn't do that one.  (#1 I understand may be lost).  I may be spreading false rumors on that point, but the man is in his mid-70's at this point, so it wouldn't surprise me.

[Jonathan]

I'd always hoped for a final Liszt New Discoveries disc from Leslie Howard.  He's certainly performed some of the recently discovered pieces at the Wigmore Hall but I suspect the whole Universal takeover means it won't happen.

Shame as I received my Liszt Society journal last week and there is a substantial work in there that needs recording!  (It's an early version of the Salve Polonia from the incomplete oratorio "St. Stanislaus")

Best regards
Jonathan

[eschiss1]

Is the early version of S.518 from 1863 and the recorded version from the 1880s?

[TerraEpon]

I'd always hoped for a final Liszt New Discoveries disc from Leslie Howard.  He's certainly performed some of the recently discovered pieces at the Wigmore Hall but I suspect the whole Universal takeover means it won't happen.

Shame as I received my Liszt Society journal last week and there is a substantial work in there that needs recording!  (It's an early version of the Salve Polonia from the incomplete oratorio "St. Stanislaus")

I've been wondering about the lack of one for a little while now. There's quite a number of Album leafs that even have scores on IMSLP that seem too recent for Howard to have recorded.

[eschiss1]

Still a bit surprised about that last part, but I trust the due diligence of the copyright admins there.

[eschiss1]

I wonder if the Naxos Liszt series, whose next installment includes some really unusual items only otherwise ever recorded by Leslie Howard I think, mightn't get around to them instead.

[Jonathan]

Is the early version of S.518 from 1863 and the recorded version from the 1880s?

I'll check when I'm back at home - I skim read the details at the front of the journal and it said that the ending is different (the second version is the one that was recorded by Leslie).  It also starts differently to the version that is better known too.

Best regards
Jonathan