Case Histories
The following brief examples give an idea of the range of projects we undertake and the services we provide:
1. Magazine Cover CD
Client: BBC Music Magazine
Artists: The Endellion String Quartet
Repertoire: Schubert String Quartets
Producer: Misha Donat
The BBC commissioned HCP to record a disc commemorating the bicentenary of Schubert's birth. HCP handled all aspects of the project from repertoire selection to production of finished master tape. The recording took place over 4 days in St Silas Church, Kentish Town.
2. CD for commercial release
Client: ASV Ltd.
Artists: The Vanbrugh String Quartet / Michael Collins / Martin Roscoe
Repertoire: Copland Chamber Music
Producer: Jeremy Hayes
ASV commissioned HCP to handle all aspects of the project up to production of finished master tape. This included all contractual negotiations with the artists and their agents, thus freeing ASV of much of the administrative burden.
3. Radio Broadcast
Client: BBC Radio 3
Artists: The Hilliard Ensemble and Derek Jacobi
Repertoire: Passion Carols - Five Programmes for Holy Week
Producer: John Bickley
BBC Radio 3 commissioned this series of five broadcasts from St George's, Brandon Hill, Bristol. The series contained a sequence of carols commemorating Christ's Passion to which Derek Jacobi added readings from contemporary religious lyrics.
4. Archive Recording
Client: Louis Lortie
Artist: Louis Lortie
Repertoire: Beethoven Piano Sonatas
Producer: Misha Donat
The complete Beethoven piano sonata cycle was recorded during 8 recitals at the Wigmore Hall. Archive recordings are made to the same high technical standards as for session recordings. This means that recordings conceived as simply for private use can very often end up being broadcast or commercially released.
5. Corporate Promotion
Client: Reuters
Artists: The Choir of St Brides, Fleet Street / The Bishop Hastings Piano Duo
Repertoire: Schubert
Producer: Patrick Allen
Reuters have a tradition of putting on concerts as entertainment for their corporate clients and a three year concert series of rarely performed Schubert music was devised. All concerts in the series were recorded and a double CD of the highlights was compiled.
6. Charity Event
Client: Jacquesson et Fils Champagne / Sargent Cancer Care for Children
Artists: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / Emma Kirkby / Michael George / Rogers Covey Crump / Eton College Chapel Choir
Repertoire: Haydn - The Creation
Producer: Patrick Allen
This concert was held 250 years to the day after the first performance of The Creation. It was sponsored by Jacquesson et Fils Champagne to celebrate their 250 years in business. They commissioned HCP to record the concert in Eton College Chapel, carry out all post-production mastering and manufacture 1000 double CDs including artwork design and reprographics.
7. Artist Promotion
Client: Hazard Chase Ltd.
Artist: Slava Grigoryan
Repertoire: Various
Producer: Patrick Allen
Slava Grigoryan's London concert debut at The Wigmore Hall was recorded to help promote his very promising career. The recording was subsequently broadcast on Australian national radio. Slava is now an established international artist signed exclusively to Sony.
8. Venue and concert promotion - CD-Extra
Client: Cambridge Corn Exchange
Artists: Various
Repertoire: Various
Producer: Patrick Allen
The Cambridge Corn Exchange was keen to promote its contemporary music concerts and was looking for a modern and innovative approach. HCP developed one of the first CD-Extra compatible with both the Windows and AppleMac platforms. In addition to music and video clips promoting the individual concerts, there was an extensive section promoting the venue itself. This section included an interactive guided tour and 360 degree panoramic views of the auditorium.
9. Remastering existing recordings
Client: Sargent Cancer Care for Children
Artists: Various
Repertoire: Various
Producer: Patrick Allen
Sargent Cancer Care had been donated a potentially valuable recording featuring artists such as John Williams and Jack Brymer. Unfortunately the analogue master tapes made in the mid 1970s had deteriorated badly and were unplayable. HCP restored the tapes and transferred the recording to a digital master format from which CDs were subsequently manufactured.
For further information contact patrickallen@operaomnia.co.uk.
