Strictly speaking this is not a new release, but as the original issue of this important and unique set has been out of stock for almost two years, a reminder is justified. The need to create new artwork caused a hiatus in repressing, but it also gave Hyperion the opportunity to re-think the packaging. Who can from joy refrain?

The set is now contained within a slim, clamshell-style box with cardboard inner sleeves (rather than the original, large box containing eight standard jewel cases with individual booklets for each disc). There is now one substantial and fully updated 72-page booklet, which contains all the texts and a trilingual note. This is the only complete recording of Purcell s Odes and Welcome Songs and, as such, one of the treasures of the Hyperion catalogue - it makes a very welcome return.