Hyperion Records

Hyperion Records is an independent British classical record label, named after Hyperion, one of the Titans of Greek mythology. It was founded by Edward Perry in 1980. Early LP releases included rarely recorded 20th century British music by composers such as Robin Milford, Alan Bush and Michael Berkeley. The success of the venture was sealed with a critically acclaimed and hugely popular disc of music by Hildegard of Bingen directed by the medievalist Christopher Page.

Related Topics:
Hyperion - Titans - Greek mythology - Edward Perry - 1980 - LP - British - Composer - Robin Milford - Alan Bush - Michael Berkeley - Hildegard of Bingen - Christopher Page

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Hyperion became renowned for recording lesser-known works, particularly reviving romantic piano concertos which have fallen from the repertory, works by Scottish romantic composers and English music of the Renaissance to the Baroque. They are also famed for their complete edition of the Lieder of Franz Schubert, prepared under the supervision of the accompanist Graham Johnson and the choral music of Henry Purcell under the direction of Robert King. It is also notable for the breadth of the repertoire recorded, including music from the twelfth to the 21st centuries.

Related Topics:
Piano concerto - Scottish - English - Renaissance - Baroque - Lieder - Franz Schubert - Accompanist - Graham Johnson - Henry Purcell - Robert King

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Recordings released by Hyperion have won many awards, including several Gramophone Awards including Record of the Year in 1996, 1998 and 2002.

Related Topics:
Gramophone Awards - 1996 - 1998 - 2002

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In 2004 the company became embroiled in a legal dispute with Lionel Sawkins, a music editor whose editions of works by Michel-Richard de Lalande had been used in Hyperion's recording of the composer's music. Dr. Sawkins sued the company for royalties accruing from his musical copyright in these editions. Hyperion maintained that the editions were not original compositions, and therefore were not subject to copyright and further that Dr. Sawkins did receive payment in the form of a hire fee from the performers for their rental. The case came to court in May 2004 and the judgement went largely in favour of Dr. Sawkins. Hyperion chose to make an appeal in March 2005, in which the court upheld the original judgement. While the damages sought by Dr. Sawkins' were thought to be small, the legal costs of the case were estimated to result in a liability to the company of hundreds of thousands of pounds Sterling, making the future of Hyperion Records uncertain.

Related Topics:
2004 - Lionel Sawkins - Michel-Richard de Lalande - May 2004 - March 2005

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