Hail! Bright Cecilia.

This article reviews a recording of Henry Purcell's 1692 ode for St Cecilia's Day, *Hail! Bright Cecilia*, performed by the French ensemble Le Poème Harmonique under Vincent Dumestre. The review notes Dumestre's sensitive approach to the English style, comparing the ensemble's size and sound to earlier English performances by Robert King and Paul McCreesh. While the instrumental execution is praised, the use of harp continuo is considered somewhat incongruous, and some soloists show minor stylistic or diction issues, with the British tenor Hugo Hymas’s performance highlighted as a standout. The recording also features the first orchestral version of John Blow's *Welcome Every Guest*, previously only available in a reduced form. The acoustic setting of the Chapelle Royale in Versailles is described as somewhat dry compared to other venues used for this repertoire. [Extracted from the article]