Simply Electrifying

Once Upon A Time is the definitive last word on Family. A long-awaited 14 disc box set that collects the band's entire back catalogue for the first time…

The first four tracks of Family's Anyway were recorded at Croydon's Fairfield Hall, and while their sound throughout these songs is messy, overly loud, and remarkably bottom-heavy, their is an emitted energy that would change Family's persona from this point on…

John Eliot Gardiner's interpretation of the Missa Solemnis stands as one of the crowning accomplishments of his career and one of the most impressive achievements of the period-instrument movement. The concept is grand and powerful, lively though not unduly brisk. The execution is simply electrifying: Gardiner has the orchestra on the edge of their seats, the chorus going all-out, and sparks flying everywhere. Excellent singing from the soloists and a vivid recording complete the triumph, and it's all on a single disc.

Another memorable pair of transfers from Michael Dutton–and in the first, a fine memorial to the pianism of Prokofiev himself. The concerto was recorded at Abbey Road in London in 1932, the year before Prokofiev returned to live in the Soviet Union after nearly two decades away. His playing in this famous performance crackles and bubbles along, while the LSO is on great form under Piero Coppola, who apparently brought Prokofiev to London for the occasion.

Handel's unrivaled masterpieces of the concerto grosso form and style–his Twelve Grand Concertos, in seven parts, for four violins, a tenor, a violoncello, with a thorough-bass for the harpsichord–here receive their finest recording to date, with performances that leave all others–both period- and modern-instrument versions–in their wake. For obvious reasons these 12 concertos have remained popular since their publication in 1740: the irresistibly congenial tunes and engaging rhythms, the free-spirited fugues, endearing Largos and Adagios, and overall vivacious writing for all instruments elicits correspondingly high-spirited responses from anyone within earshot of these unrelentingly entertaining works.

Hyperion is thrilled to welcome to the label Andrey Gugnin, winner of the 2016 Sydney International Piano Competition. With a spectacular all-Shostakovich programme built around the two piano sonatas, this is simply electrifying pianism.