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Music : Holst: The Planets / Elgar: Enigma Variations
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Rating: 
- As Holst intended?
This version of The Planets has replaced my recent LSO version.
Why? Well, the balance between the contributing elements is the best i've heard so far: The bass is thunderous analogue and the high woodwind/strings are like crystal in equal measure. This is a superb achievement and exceptionally important for, 'large orchestra' where Dynamics become a recording engineer's delight or problem depending on how good they are. And these people are the best: Abbey road have done a fantastic job on the remastering of a late 70's classic, although there is one thing they could never tackle: Is this as Holst intended?
Bolt was a friend of Holst and was given the opportunity to first conduct the piece; Bolt read and heard the original 'two piano' score and must have got the full S.P. from Holst? If this is so, then what we have here is close to the real deal?
OK, Bolt had five cracks at this recording before producing this last version, so we may have the advantage of decades of Bolt's polishing and highlighting the manifold textures one may hear in this genius of a masterpiece. It certainly sounds like it.
I was surprised to hear a faster 'Venus' than i think i have ever heard before, and 'Jupiter' is a bit nippy also. But i was also surprised at how quickly i accomodated these unexpected nuances and began to listen to the clarity of what was going on instead. I don't think i have ever before been able to hold so many themes and harmonies in one passing than i have experienced with this recording of The Planets because so much usualy becomes burried in the total wash. Not so here: the richness and variety of the score is available at all sonic levels.
Majestic stuff.
Rating:
- not impressed
The style of the presentation of the pieces here could be described as majestic although a trifle slow for my taste. The style is in keeping with its time.
However I have had a number of versions of both works over the years and the dynamics on this rendition must be the worst. Whoever transfered the music from master tape to CD did not make anywhere near the most of the expanded dynamic capabilities available today. I do not mean that the bass should destroy buildings a mile distant or that the treble should cause bats to explode in mid air. But the bass was mushy and upper registers rather swamped by the mid-tone brass.
There was a distinct lack of detail in a number of the movements that make up both works (one example is the undercurrent of bubbling oboes and bassoon in Mercury which is just completely absent). Compare this recording with the astonishing RCA Living Stereo series.
I was left with the aural equivalent of a half-sucked jelly baby. I'm only glad it cost me less than a fiver.
Rating: - In a league of its own
Towering, majestic, commanding, bursting with passion and energy, these are thoroughly spirited performances of the Elgar variations and Holst's Planets, sublime recordings that are truly worthy of the EMI Classics logo. Part of their Great Recordings of the Century series, it provides welcome relief for escapees of the Classic FM "pop" culture, for connoisseurs of truly beautiful and complete classical interpretations.
Famous around the world, Elgar's supreme string control and intertwining themes, and Holst's magical woodwind and transcendent strident brass provide monumental templates that many subsequent composers have turned to for inspiration and reference.
These are not just any recordings, they are, in my opinion, the best recordings ever made of these works, and conducted by a legend - Sir Adrian Boult - who met and worked with both Elgar and Holst during his formative years. Boult's masterful control of large orchestra shines unrivalled in these recordings, and will leave you breathless in awe. You haven't heard The Planets if you haven't heard Boult's dramatic and legendary interpretation.
Rating: - Awesome, i moshed all night to this
At first i thought it was a bit heavy, but by the 2536327st time i'd heard this album i really started to like it. This may seem a bit way out, but i'd compare it to the great works of cannibal corpse and sahwoddy woddy. Immense.
Rating: - simply the best
I don't think there is a better CD of English classics than this one. Rob Cowan chose Boult's 'Enigma' as the best available version the last time the work was reviewed on Radio 3's CD Review. It is a performance that manages to balance all the different moods and characters of the musical pictures of Elgar's 'friends pictured within' quite beautifully, and the sound is excellent 1970s analogue. Boult was the first man to conduct 'The Planets' and recorded it five times, and this is probably the best performance and certainly the best recording.
From start to finish it is a joy. I find it amazing that a man who was - what? - well on in his 80s when he made this could produce an interpretation of such energy and poetry, but so it is. An unmissable CD.
- As Holst intended?This version of The Planets has replaced my recent LSO version.
Why? Well, the balance between the contributing elements is the best i've heard so far: The bass is thunderous analogue and the high woodwind/strings are like crystal in equal measure. This is a superb achievement and exceptionally important for, 'large orchestra' where Dynamics become a recording engineer's delight or problem depending on how good they are. And these people are the best: Abbey road have done a fantastic job on the remastering of a late 70's classic, although there is one thing they could never tackle: Is this as Holst intended?
Bolt was a friend of Holst and was given the opportunity to first conduct the piece; Bolt read and heard the original 'two piano' score and must have got the full S.P. from Holst? If this is so, then what we have here is close to the real deal?
OK, Bolt had five cracks at this recording before producing this last version, so we may have the advantage of decades of Bolt's polishing and highlighting the manifold textures one may hear in this genius of a masterpiece. It certainly sounds like it.
I was surprised to hear a faster 'Venus' than i think i have ever heard before, and 'Jupiter' is a bit nippy also. But i was also surprised at how quickly i accomodated these unexpected nuances and began to listen to the clarity of what was going on instead. I don't think i have ever before been able to hold so many themes and harmonies in one passing than i have experienced with this recording of The Planets because so much usualy becomes burried in the total wash. Not so here: the richness and variety of the score is available at all sonic levels.
Majestic stuff.
Rating:
- not impressedThe style of the presentation of the pieces here could be described as majestic although a trifle slow for my taste. The style is in keeping with its time.
However I have had a number of versions of both works over the years and the dynamics on this rendition must be the worst. Whoever transfered the music from master tape to CD did not make anywhere near the most of the expanded dynamic capabilities available today. I do not mean that the bass should destroy buildings a mile distant or that the treble should cause bats to explode in mid air. But the bass was mushy and upper registers rather swamped by the mid-tone brass.
There was a distinct lack of detail in a number of the movements that make up both works (one example is the undercurrent of bubbling oboes and bassoon in Mercury which is just completely absent). Compare this recording with the astonishing RCA Living Stereo series.
I was left with the aural equivalent of a half-sucked jelly baby. I'm only glad it cost me less than a fiver.
Rating:
- In a league of its ownTowering, majestic, commanding, bursting with passion and energy, these are thoroughly spirited performances of the Elgar variations and Holst's Planets, sublime recordings that are truly worthy of the EMI Classics logo. Part of their Great Recordings of the Century series, it provides welcome relief for escapees of the Classic FM "pop" culture, for connoisseurs of truly beautiful and complete classical interpretations.
Famous around the world, Elgar's supreme string control and intertwining themes, and Holst's magical woodwind and transcendent strident brass provide monumental templates that many subsequent composers have turned to for inspiration and reference.
These are not just any recordings, they are, in my opinion, the best recordings ever made of these works, and conducted by a legend - Sir Adrian Boult - who met and worked with both Elgar and Holst during his formative years. Boult's masterful control of large orchestra shines unrivalled in these recordings, and will leave you breathless in awe. You haven't heard The Planets if you haven't heard Boult's dramatic and legendary interpretation.
Rating:
- Awesome, i moshed all night to thisAt first i thought it was a bit heavy, but by the 2536327st time i'd heard this album i really started to like it. This may seem a bit way out, but i'd compare it to the great works of cannibal corpse and sahwoddy woddy. Immense.
Rating:
- simply the bestI don't think there is a better CD of English classics than this one. Rob Cowan chose Boult's 'Enigma' as the best available version the last time the work was reviewed on Radio 3's CD Review. It is a performance that manages to balance all the different moods and characters of the musical pictures of Elgar's 'friends pictured within' quite beautifully, and the sound is excellent 1970s analogue. Boult was the first man to conduct 'The Planets' and recorded it five times, and this is probably the best performance and certainly the best recording.
From start to finish it is a joy. I find it amazing that a man who was - what? - well on in his 80s when he made this could produce an interpretation of such energy and poetry, but so it is. An unmissable CD.