Le Poème Harmonique: Hail! Bright Cecilia album review – Purcell's ode shines in luxurious French recording

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A Luxurious Ode to Music: Le Poème Harmonique's 'Hail! Bright Cecilia' Shines

Conductor Vincent Dumestre and the esteemed French ensemble Le Poème Harmonique have done justice to Henry Purcell's timeless masterpiece, Hail! Bright Cecilia. This lavish ode, composed in 1692, is a triumph of musical storytelling, with its spirited text weaving in allusions to various instruments, including the organ, which St Cecilia allegedly invented.

Purcell's vibrant imagination responds with an array of colorful arias, duets, and choruses that burst with life. The orchestra's woodwind section adds depth and character, while the continuo features harp for added richness. Dumestre skillfully guides his musicians to deliver a felicitous account on disc, replete with attention to detail and theatrical flair.

British tenor Hugo Hymas stands out as a highlight, his light-as-a-feather tone complemented by evocative word-painting that brings the text to vivid life. The rest of the soloists deliver perfectly acceptable English accents, with Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian's fruity countertenor adding suave charm in In Vain the Am'rous Flute.

The ensemble tackles the bellicose challenge of The Fife and All the Harmony of War with aplomb, while Vlad Crosman is suitably awestruck by the chugging organ in Wondrous Machine!. A welcome bonus is John Blow's tuneful Welcome, Every Guest, recorded complete for the first time. This luxurious rendering of Hail! Bright Cecilia is a testament to Le Poème Harmonique's mastery and devotion to Purcell's music.
 
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🤩 this recording is straight fire!!! i mean who knew harry purcell could be so lit?? 😎 vincent dumestre really brought out the best in le poème harmonique, those woodwind sections are insane 🌿 and hugo hymas tho 🙌 he's like a ray of sunshine with that voice. i love how they tackled all the big pieces too, it's not just some watered down version, it's the real deal 🎶
 
OMG 🤯, this latest release by Le Poème Harmonique is giving me LIFE!!! 💥 I mean, who knew Henry Purcell's Hail! Bright Cecilia was still so relevant today? The way the orchestra brings out the colors of each instrument is insane 🔊🎵. Hugo Hymas, bruv, you're a total rockstar 🤩, his voice is like butter for my ears 😋. And can we talk about the continuo section with harp? It's like they're speaking my language 🎶💫. I'm so down to listen to this album on repeat all day 😴🔀.
 
Omg u guys ! 🤩 I'm literally OBSESSED with this new album from Le Poème Harmonique ! "Hail! Bright Cecilia" is literally a masterpiece , Vincent Dumestre is a genius conductor 👏 and Hugo Hymas as a soloist is on another level 💥 his voice is so smooth & rich it's like butter for my soul 🤤. I'm also loving the woodwind section they added depth to the music which makes it even more engaging 🎵. And can we talk about Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian's countertenor skills 😍 he's like a dream ! 👏
 
.. this new cd from Le Poème Harmonique is somethin' else 🎵💥 I mean, I've heard some classical stuff in my day, but this Henry Purcell recording is top-notch! The way they bring out the instruments, it's like you're right there with 'em in the 17th century. And that British tenor Hugo Hymas, wow! He's got pipes on him for days 😂. I'm also loving how they included some of John Blow's lesser-known pieces - nice touch! This music just feels so alive and full of character... it's like a big ol' party in the concert hall 🎉
 
I'm loving this new album by Le Poème Harmonique, it's like they took me on a magical journey through 17th century England 🧚‍♂️🎶 Vincent Dumestre is a genius conductor, he really knows how to bring out the best in his musicians. And that Hugo Hymas, wow! His voice is like butter for my ears 😋. I also love how they recorded John Blow's Welcome, Every Guest, it's so underrated and this recording is a game-changer 🎵💥
 
😊 I just found this thread about Hail! Bright Cecilia by Le Poème Harmonique 🎶 And I gotta say, I'm loving the way they're doing justice to Henry Purcell's masterpiece! 💕 The attention to detail is incredible - I mean, who knew there was a whole disc of John Blow's Welcome, Every Guest that was recorded for the first time? 🤯 Mind blown! Hugo Hymas as the British tenor is giving me all the feels too... his tone is so light and airy it's like he's floating on air ✨ What do you guys think of this release?
 
I'm thoroughly enamored with this disc, it's like a sonic tapestry woven from threads of elegance & refinement 🎵. The way the orchestra brings out the instruments is simply sublime, it's as if you're transported to 17th century England, surrounded by the opulence of royal courts. The soloists are also top-notch, especially Hugo Hymas, his voice is like a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds ☀️. I do love how they've tackled some of the more obscure pieces from the collection, it's clear that Le Poème Harmonique has a deep understanding of Purcell's work & is dedicated to doing it justice 💯. Overall, this disc is a masterclass in Baroque music, a true masterpiece 🎶.
 
🎵 i'm low-key obsessed with this new album from Le Poème Harmonique 🙌 their rendition of Hail! Bright Cecilia is literally perfection, every instrument sounds so lush and rich, it's like you're transported to a 17th century masquerade ball 🎭 plus, can we talk about Hugo Hymas' vocals? he's like butter for your soul 😍 the way they recorded John Blow's Welcome, Every Guest as complete pieces is genius too, never knew that existed! 🤯
 
I'm totally loving this recording of "Hail! Bright Cecilia" 🎶👏 - Le Poème Harmonique really knows how to bring out the drama in Purcell's music. The soloists are all top-notch, especially Hugo Hymas, he sounds so effortless singing those tricky arias. And I love how they're not afraid to get a bit messy with the harmonies and instruments, it adds such depth to the whole thing 🤯. One thing that struck me was how well they've captured the sense of wonder and curiosity in the text - it's like you can almost picture St Cecilia holding that imaginary organ in her lap 😊. Overall, a fantastic recording from Le Poème Harmonique!
 
omg this album is giving me life 🎶😍 i mean i've heard of Henry Purcell before but never really delved into his stuff, so this release by Le Poème Harmonique has definitely piqued my interest 🤔 i love how the orchestra brings out all these different colors and textures, it's like a party in my ears 🎉 and that British tenor Hugo Hymas is pure perfection 👏 his tone is just so light and airy, it's like butter for your ears 🥖
 
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