Holst: The Planets

[vandermolen]

The problem was that the generic Holst thread is my 'Non-Planets Holst' which has caused confusion. So here is a Planets thread.

My favourites are by Steinberg, Boult (earliest and latest recordings) and I like the controversial Herrmann version.

[Elgarian Redux]

There's a pre-existing ginormous thread on the Planets here:

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,20422.0.html

I'm in the process of reading it to rediscover what I like ....

[Karl Henning]

There's a pre-existing ginormous thread on the Planets here:

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,20422.0.html

I'm in the process of reading it to rediscover what I like ....

Let the rediscovery begin!

[Elgarian Redux]

"Infectious bounce"! Remember that, Karl? And "twinkling affection"?
Ha, they don't write 'em like that any more .

(He said, bouncing affectionately and infectiously twinkling off into the distance...)

[Christo]

The problem was that the generic Holst thread is my 'Non-Planets Holst' which has caused confusion. So here is a Planets thread. My favourites are by Steinberg, Boult (earliest and latest recordings) and I like the controversial Herrmann version.

I'm not an expert about the The Planets countless recordings, but yesterday I listened to a Saturn that impressed me a lot, specifically from this recording:


I rediscovered this stunning timeless piece, quite possibly my favorite planet along with Uranus (which shares the wizardry with the Dukas's The Sorcerer's Apprentice in a sort of way BTW!). Karajan was a very good conductor, despite many criticisms from some.

There used to be a Planets thread where all extant recordings - more than 90 - have been discussed; the highlight being Peter Power Pop's thorough and very enjoyable survey with a review of each of them. In his final verdict, the Karajan was ranked 39th, Steinberg 48th, the Herrmann not-so-very controversial at a solid 83rd place  , the early Boult 10th and the later Boult 34th. BTW, I myself happen to own Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 in his ranking and completely agree! 

Recommended! https://petersplanets.wordpress.com 

Here it is:

There's a pre-existing ginormous thread on the Planets here:
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,20422.0.html

[vandermolen]

There used to be a Planets thread where all extant recordings - more than 90 - have been discussed; the highlight being Peter Power Pop's thorough and very enjoyable survey with a review of each of them. In his final verdict, the Karajan was ranked 39th, Steinberg 48th, the Herrmann not-so-very controversial at a solid 83rd place  , the early Boult 10th and the later Boult 34th. BTW, I myself happen to own Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 in his ranking and completely agree! 

Recommended! https://petersplanets.wordpress.com 

Here it is:

Thanks. Peter's list is very interesting. Of his top few I think that Sargent is my favourite on the CFP disc with a fine 'Beni Mora' etc. I don't know the Ozawa version at all. The Dutoit is indeed excellent.

[Karl Henning]

"Infectious bounce"! Remember that, Karl? And "twinkling affection"?
Ha, they don't write 'em like that any more .

Who could forget!

[Daverz]

Thanks. Peter's list is very interesting. Of his top few I think that Sargent is my favourite on the CFP disc with a fine 'Beni Mora' etc. I don't know the Ozawa version at all. The Dutoitbiscindeed excellent.

Interesting that he rates Boult's 1954 recording so highly.  The Fanfare reviewers seem to feel that it's the weakest of his 5 recordings.  Listening to it now on Tidal  (on my TV, so I can't really judge the quality of the transfer.  You wouldn't play this as an orchestral spectacular anyway.)

https://tidal.com/album/9466528 or search "planets promenade".

[Biffo]

When we discussed The Planets in the Amazon UK forum I was taken aback by the near hysterical response when I failed to express total uncritical admiration: some people seem to have a deep emotional attachment to this work. For no particular reason - Jupiter apart - I came to the complete work relatively late in life (well over 40). It was in a Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra concert conducted by Andrew Litton (a respectable 7th with the Dallas SO). Over the years I have accumulated a number of recordings but I can't say it is a massive favourite.

When the work was reviewed on BBC R3 Building a Library a few years ago the surprising 1st choice was Yoel Levi and the Atlanta SO (27th in PP). I bought a copy and it strikes me as a fine performance. I also have -

Rattle/Philharmonia - no feelings either way
Boult/LPO (1979) - I suppose Boult is the essential conductor for this work, no idea how his performances changed over the years
Steinberg/Boston SO - another fine perfromance, must listen to it again soon
Solti/LPO - came as part of a two-disc compilation, can't remember much about it
Mehta/LAPO - beautiful but bland; 11th in PP and favourite with several Amazonians

I also have a live performance from Barbirolli and the NYPO, live in Carnegie Hall, 1959. A non-starter for two reasons, sonically rather ropey but also JB only does five movements (even then one NY critic found the work too long). There is another live recording of the five movement version from Rome(?) but I haven't heard it. Boult gave the first performance in a semi-public concert; in the first proper public performance he only condcuted five movements and Holst wasn't best pleased.

[vandermolen]

Thanks for responses. I like The Planets, especially Saturn but I listen to works like the Choral Symphony more often and also The Cloud Messenger. I have many recordings of The Planets. I think that Steinberg's is my current favourite. Surprisingly there is a fine recording of him conducting the 'Five Tudor Portraits' by Vaughan Williams.

[Biffo]

Thanks for responses. I like The Planets, especially Saturn but I listen to works like the Choral Symphony more often and also The Cloud Messenger. I have many recordings of The Planets. I think that Steinberg's is my current favourite. Surprisingly there is a fine recording of him conducting the 'Five Tudor Portraits' by Vaughan Williams.

There is a performance in the Steinberg Icon box but the sound was so appalling I couldn't finish it; perhaps I will have to give it another try.

I find The Cloud Messenger very frustrating; there is some wonderful music in it but why did Holst insist on setting all the verses? There is too much hovering and anticipating, if it was 10 minutes shorter it would probably be Holst's masterpiece.

[Daverz]

I've probably been overexposed to the work over the years, but perhaps have not listened to it with much care (put away the laptop and other distractions).

I have the Dutoit, of course, but I haven't listened to it in a long time.  I added a few from Peter's list like Goodman, Judd, Handley and Litton to my Tidal favorites for later listening (I could not find the Ozawa there).  Also, perhaps I should take the Stokowski and Bernstein recordings more seriously than I have in the past.

[vandermolen]

There is a performance in the Steinberg Icon box but the sound was so appalling I couldn't finish it; perhaps I will have to give it another try.

I find The Cloud Messenger very frustrating; there is some wonderful music in it but why did Holst insist on setting all the verses? There is too much hovering and anticipating, if it was 10 minutes shorter it would probably be Holst's masterpiece.

I agree about The Cloud Messenger - it has a wonderful proto-minimalist section which I love but there are perhaps too many longuers as well. I have the Steinberg VW in an Albion Records release, maybe it is a better transfer than the Icon box.

[Biffo]

I agree about The Cloud Messenger - it has a wonderful proto-minimalist section which I love but there are perhaps too many longuers as well. I have the Steinberg VW in an Albion Records release, maybe it is a better transfer than the Icon box.

The recording in the Icon box is with the Pittsburgh SO & Mendelssohn Choir etc; it dates from November 1952. Perhaps the Albion recording is a different performance.

Edit: Just given the disc another spin and it is as bad as I remembered. It has allegedly been remastered but it is still horrible. I could only bear about 4 minutes of it, I wouldn't want to hear the lovely Jane Scroop in such appalling sound.

[Karl Henning]

The Planets is Holst's March from The Love for Three Oranges . . . .

[71 dB]

This might sound ridiculous, but I "discovered" The Planets quite recently, 5 years ago maybe. I had only heart some planets (Mars) and found it a bit uninsteresting, but I got the new Naxos disc and heart the other planets. Hearing all of them instead of just Mars makes the work much more interesting and I was surprised about the orchesteral 'vibes' of the more calm planets (e.g. Saturnus).

[vandermolen]

The Planets is Holst's March from The Love for Three Oranges . . . .

Which, more or less, reappears as the 'March of the Ewoks' from Star Wars: 'Return of the Jedi'.

[vandermolen]

This might sound ridiculous, but I "discovered" The Planets quite recently, 5 years ago maybe. I had only heart some planets (Mars) and found it a bit uninsteresting, but I got the new Naxos disc and heart the other planets. Hearing all of them instead of just Mars makes the work much more interesting and I was surprised about the orchesteral 'vibes' of the more calm planets (e.g. Saturnus).

Saturn was Holst's favourite and mine too.

[Daverz]

This might sound ridiculous, but I "discovered" The Planets quite recently, 5 years ago maybe. I had only heart some planets (Mars) and found it a bit uninsteresting, but I got the new Naxos disc and heart the other planets. Hearing all of them instead of just Mars makes the work much more interesting and I was surprised about the orchesteral 'vibes' of the more calm planets (e.g. Saturnus).

I really like Lloyd-Jones in British Music.  I should give that one a listen.

[71 dB]

Saturn was Holst's favourite and mine too.

Yeah. Why they always play 'Mars' on radio, when the work has so much more to offer...