No more Hyperion SACDs

Hyperion have said they will not produce any new SACDs and are letting their current catalog of 35 SACDs go out of print when supplies are exhausted. It may not help, but it couldn't hurt to let our feelings be known. Personally I don't buy CDs or low resolution digital downloads so if Hyperion wants to sell me any of their music must they must release it on SACD. It is a shame as like Telarc they record DSD. Email Simon Perry at info@hyperion-records.co.uk

You can still purchase Hyperion SACDs from suppliers who have them in stock.

Last night I played my favorite Hyperion SACD which is also by one of my favorite composers Holst: The Planets, Matthews: Pluto - Halle/Mark Elder

It was recorded 2 channel DSD in 2001. The playing time is 1 hour and 57 minutes as it has the original version of the complete Planets, followed by the Lyric movement for viola and small orchestra and then the complete Planets with Colin Matthews "Pluto - The Renewer"

On my system it's a fantastic sounding SACD with a deep and wide soundstage and spot on tonal accuracy. Plus the nice smooth delicious sweet strings I have come to expect from DSD recordings.

The performance beats all of my previous versions including the Zubin Mehta on Decca/Speakers Corner 180 Gram LP, the Georg Solti on London/MFSL Half-speed mastered LP, the Slatkin on Vox/In Sync Labs real time duplicated TDK SA cassette.

I especially love Colin Matthews' "Pluto - The Renewer", it has a very other worldly feel to it and on multiple listenings over years to me it fits with the other planets perfectly. It is very exciting and beautiful. The ending of Neptune was rewritten and the wordless chorus of Neptune fades perfectly into Pluto. As much as I love Holst, I have to say Pluto has become my favorite planet. This is also has the most exciting and menacing "Mars" I've ever heard and the jolliest "Jupiter", all the Planets are wonderful.

This is not only my favorite Hyperion SACD, it is one of my favorite SACDs period. Bravo to Mark Elder, the Halle Orchestra and the fantastic engineering by Tony Faulkner!