Sir Adrian Boult - Holst: The Planets

"This magnificent performance of The Planets, recorded with an opulent realism, brings to a culmination Boult's supreme understanding of this work." — Gramophone

Holst's Planets is a hi-fi test piece par excellence. The music explores every nuance and dynamic of which a modern symphony orchestra is capable. When reproduced at a realistic volume level with full frequency range, the music has a stunning emotional impact — at times savage — at other times beguiling. The piece has been recorded many times since its 1918 debut under Sir Boult's baton but its colors never glowed more brilliantly than in this performance.

 

Side A

1. I. Mars, the Bringer of War (Allegro)

2. II. Venus, the Bringer of Peace (Adagio)

3. III. Mercury, the Winged Messenger (Vivace)

4. IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity (Allegro giocoso)

Side B

1. V. Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age (Adagio)

2. VI. Uranus, the Magician (Allegro)

3. VII. Neptune, the Mystic (Andante)

Customer Reviews (4.00 Stars) 1 person(s) rated this product.

Decent pressing, prefer the Ozawa/BSO version posted on 04/24/2021 4 Stars Reviewer: ETKirsch This is a solid enough vinyl pressing. Some background cackling that's occasionally audible, but overall not bad. Imaging and sound stage are decent. Personally, I prefer the Ozawa/BSO performance on Philips, but Boult is pretty synonymous with 20th Century English music, so I'm probably in the minority on that one.

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