BaL 27.09.14 - Holst: The Planets

[visualnickmos]

I have, somewhat embarrassingly, a few Boult recordings (including the 'odd' Vienna State Opera Orchestra version - but that's another thread!) and I have to say that IMHO they are somehow definitive, and as you the '66 New Phil really does the job superbly.

"Holst's own description of Mars as conveying the STUPIDITY of war. Other recordings may display greater orchestral virtuosity and amazing sound (e.g. Dutoit) but Boult's 1966 Mars encapsulates the brutal unthinking stupidity of conflict to a tee"

Exactly so. Virtuosity is NOT the final determining factor in this suite.

[Tapiola]

vn!

[Petrushka]

No self-respecting CD collection should be without at least one Boult version of the Planets. After all, it was he who 'first made them shine in public' and he
must have conducted the work countless times since. I'd think it fair to say that Boult must have known the Planets better than anyone.

Annoyingly, I don't have the 1966 recording on CD and I think it's available only as part of a boxed set. I feel a purchase coming on...

[Tapiola]

No self-respecting CD collection should be without at least one Boult version of the Planets. After all, it was he who 'first made them shine in public' and he
must have conducted the work countless times since. I'd think it fair to say that Boult must have known the Planets better than anyone.

Annoyingly, I don't have the 1966 recording on CD and I think it's available only as part of a boxed set. I feel a purchase coming on...

Petrushka,

Not quite a box set, but...try here?

[Alison]

Rather disappointingly DON failed to reignite my enthusiasm for the piece.

Few if any of the excerpts gave me the urge to investigate further.

The Esa Pekka DVD with the Philharmonia was the one exception.

[Bryn]

Prior to tonight's recital by Hugh Shrapnel and John Lewis at Schott Music, I popped into Harold Moore to check out their half price offer on second hand CD's. I thought I had found a real beaut in Christopher Hobbs's Sudoku Music 82. However, it turned it to be a empty CD case. No disc. What I did find was the Roy Goodman HIPP recording of The Planets. I fell asleep during this morning's CD review. Was the Goodman/New Queen's Hall recording discussed?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

What I did find was the Roy Goodman HIPP recording of The Planets. I fell asleep during this morning's CD review. Was the Goodman/New Queen's Hall recording discussed?

If it was mentioned, I missed it.

DON was quite keen on Norrington's with the SWDRO, by the way - as was I, from the one extract from Saturn that was played.

[Tapiola]

Was the Goodman/New Queen's Hall recording discussed?

I don't think so, Bryn.

[Barbirollians]

No self-respecting CD collection should be without at least one Boult version of the Planets. After all, it was he who 'first made them shine in public' and he
must have conducted the work countless times since. I'd think it fair to say that Boult must have known the Planets better than anyone.

Annoyingly, I don't have the 1966 recording on CD and I think it's available only as part of a boxed set. I feel a purchase coming on...

It is also available in the cracking Boult sweeping up set from Warner that includes some other great stuff .

[Barbirollians]

I've just ordered the CD for £1.50 (used inc pp)for the Jochum Enigma http://www.amazon.co.uk/Holst-Planet...olst+steinberg

That is a lovely account of the Enigma Variations - quite leisurely and understated but totally idiomatic .

[Pabmusic]

I have, somewhat embarrassingly, a few Boult recordings (including the 'odd' Vienna State Opera Orchestra version - but that's another thread!) and I have to say that IMHO they are somehow definitive, and as you the '66 New Phil really does the job superbly.

"Holst's own description of Mars as conveying the STUPIDITY of war. Other recordings may display greater orchestral virtuosity and amazing sound (e.g. Dutoit) but Boult's 1966 Mars encapsulates the brutal unthinking stupidity of conflict to a tee"

Exactly so. Virtuosity is NOT the final determining factor in this suite.

Quite agree. One thing we often overlook is that Mars was completed before WW1 broke out (Holst said he was working on Venus in the second half of 1914). In any case, tanks, massed machine guns, gigantic underground explosions, tin hats, aerial warfare and trench warfare generally wouldn't appear for at least a year or two - so WW1 was clearly not the image in Holst's head. It has to be something more abstract - terror, ruthlessness, unstoppability (yes and futility perhaps).

[akiralx]

Aktcherly, I think you've summed up my point rather well, here, Calum - interesting lecture, but little relevance to how someone who doesn't have a recording decides on which one to buy.

Let's face it - you're just annoyed he didn't choose Boult or another old version...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Let's face it - you're just annoyed he didn't choose Boult or another old version...

Like Norrington's? Quite right, Mum.

[Alison]

While it's good to hear comment on very specific musical points, I still think there's a certain art, crucial for BaL and lacking in DON, in succinctly summarising the general characteristics of a recording.

[Barbirollians]

While it's good to hear comment on very specific musical points, I still think there's a certain art, crucial for BaL and lacking in DON, in succinctly summarising the general characteristics of a recording.

Well said - I have only listened to all of it this morning and I was rather aghast that Boult did not even get a mention until the end of Saturn . His part in its history was completely glossed over .

As for the winner - apart from the attractive singing in Neptune it was the version I least liked of those he played especially the overly quick Mars extract - which sounded not like mars bringer of war but perhaps at most a light miltary exercise .