BaL 11.01.25 - Holst: The Planets

[oliver sudden]

This website is quite something.

https://petersplanets.wordpress.com/

[Keraulophone]

Doesn't Steinberg with the Boston SO also have 'classic' status?

Steinberg was Andrew Farach‑Colton's ‘Offbeat Choice’ in last August’s Gramophone (see #5 above).

Presumably the Boston Pops (rather than Symphony Orchestra) must have been ON the beat some of the time or they wouldn’t have had a look-in.

[Pulcinella]

Steinberg was Andrew Farach‑Colton's ‘Offbeat Choice’ in last August’s Gramophone (see #5 above).

Presumably the Boston Pops (rather than Symphony Orchestra) must have been ON the beat some of the time or they wouldn’t have had a look-in.

I'm confused!

Two entirely different versions, surely.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8050189--holst-the-planets-op-32

and

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7930735--holst-the-planets-strauss-also-sprach-zarathustra

Steinberg, not John Williams.

[Goon525]

This website is quite something.

https://petersplanets.wordpress.com/

Yes, quite amazing, Delighted that he agrees with me in his very detailed review.

[visualnickmos]

The Montreal/Dutoit is absolutely fabulous, and a demonstration quality recording.

Absolutely. However, there are rich pickings for the reviewer to traverse.

[MickyD]

The Montreal/Dutoit is absolutely fabulous, and a demonstration quality recording.

Yes indeed, like so many other Decca releases from the same forces. Fantastic sound!

[MickyD]

I'll probably annoy a few members on here, but has anyone heard the period instrument version from the New Queen's Hall Orchestra under Roy Goodman? It's a fascinating recording for me

[vinteuil]

... the period instrument version from the New Queen's Hall Orchestra under Roy Goodman

... I like it a lot. The reviewers on amazon are enthusiastic too -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0000249V2

.

[Keraulophone]

I'm confused!

Two entirely different versions, surely.

Steinberg, not John Williams.

You're absolutely right, of course. Apologies - I was confusing the two Boston recordings in my fuddled brain!

John Williams (on Philips, 1986) was AF-C's offbeat choice:

'The Boston Pops is not quite a world-class orchestra but that hardly matters. The film composer’s deep love for this suite is audible in every bar of this recording, and his illuminating, insider’s view of Holst’s score is accomplished without any skimping on drama, atmosphere or incident.'

[Pulcinella]

You're absolutely right, of course. Apologies - I was confusing the two Boston recordings in my fuddled brain!

John Williams (on Philips, 1986) was AF-C's offbeat choice:

'The Boston Pops is not quite a world-class orchestra but that hardly matters. The film composer’s deep love for this suite is audible in every bar of this recording, and his illuminating, insider’s view of Holst’s score is accomplished without any skimping on drama, atmosphere or incident.'

No problem: easily done.
I must stream the Montreal/Dutoit later, after the recommendations given here.
Apart from the two BBC MM releases, it's Boult 1978 (in the Holst Collector's Edition box), Mackerras/RLPO, and Lloyd-Jones/RSNO (with Pluto) on the shelves here.

[gurnemanz]

I have a recommendable version not yet mentioned.

Tod Handley/RPO (1993), reissued on alto

[richardfinegold]

You're absolutely right, of course. Apologies - I was confusing the two Boston recordings in my fuddled brain!

John Williams (on Philips, 1986) was AF-C's offbeat choice:

'The Boston Pops is not quite a world-class orchestra but that hardly matters. The film composer’s deep love for this suite is audible in every bar of this recording, and his illuminating, insider’s view of Holst’s score is accomplished without any skimping on drama, atmosphere or incident.'

The Boston Pops is the Boston Symphony, minus a few first desk players. They are definitely a “World Class Orchestra “.

[gradus]

Glad to see that Sargent and the BBCSO get a thumbs up from Peters Planets.

[oliver sudden]

... I like it a lot. The reviewers on amazon are enthusiastic too -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0000249V2

.

I also enjoy it but it’s worth reading the conductor’s own somewhat apologetic words on the recording!

https://www.yourclassical.org/story/2018/06/18/conductor-roy-goodman-discusses-recording-holst-the-planets

[MickyD]

Thank you for that, Oliver, very interesting to hear the story behind the Goodman recording. Impressive that it gets to no.6 in that listing, no mean feat with all the others available.