Holst: The Planets / Dutoit, Montreal Symphony Orchestra (Penguin Music Classics Series)

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
In the CD's liner notes, novelist Ethan Canin's analysis of Holst's The Planets describes the composition to be the source material for most of the great cinema's scores. It's a fact he learned from his father--a violinist who left the San Francisco Symphony to pursue Hollywood studio work and kept referring back to The Planets as a source of inspiration. Holst's work--a composition for each planet in the solar system minus Earth and Pluto--was considered revolutionary in 1916 and it still sounds convincing today. Mars, the Bringer of War is a violent work that deserves a place in any sci-fi shoot out, while Mercury, the Winged Messenger is pure pastoral impressionism. Filled with moodswings and folk influences, Holst created a classic--a musical portrait of astrology eight decades before the term "new age" was infused into our vocabulary. This recording, featuring Charles Dutoit conducting the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, is a keeper. The orchestra's mastery of Holst is apparent throughout, especially on more powerful cuts, such as Mars and Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity. --Jason Verlinde

Holst: The Planets / Dutoit, Montreal Symphony Orchestra (Penguin Music Classics Series), Music, Gustav Holst, Charles Dutoit, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Ethan Canin, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Orchestral, Orchestral & Symphonic, Suite for Orchestra

Average customer rating:

Music of The Spheres

SOUNDS FINE TO ME

Goosebumps!

The way Holst was meant to be performed

...Celestial

Holst: The Planets

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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Dutoit, Laurence | ( D ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
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Tracks:

Mars, the Bringer of War
Venus, the Bringer of Peace
Mercury, the Winged Messenger
Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity
Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age
Uranus, The Magician
Neptune, the Mystic

Amazon.com

Charles Dutoit often sounds better on disc than he does live. The reason for this is simple: he loves to play to the audience, and the result is all kinds of wild gesticulating that the orchestra knows perfectly well to ignore. Sometimes they ignore him completely, to the peril of the performance at hand. In the studio, however, there is no audience and the conductor is free to focus on the music. Dutoit has a real affection for The Planets and his performance is vital, insightful, and recorded in resplendent digital sound. The Montreal Symphony has a particularly powerful trombone section, which adds just that extra drop of energy to "Mars,"Jupiter," and "Saturn." A fine disc. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Music of The Spheres .......2007-07-21

Gustav Holst (1874-1934) was an English composer and music teacher of Swedish heritage, he composed his most famous piece of music, the orchestral suite "The Planets"- completed in 1916. Generally I don't like classical music (I like classic and indie-rock) I find a lot of it abstruse and pompous but occasionally I have to make an exception such as with The Planets or for Igor Stravinsky's: The Rite of Spring. I'd have to say that The Planets is my favorite and most beloved composition of classical music by a long shot. I generally like the composers of the early 20th century with their thoroughly modernist sensibilities and sense of experimentation that has resulted in some truly beautiful music.

Mr. Holst composed a lot more music than The Planets alone and I think he would be rather peeved that most of his oeuvre is overshadowed by his major orchestral accomplishment, but it can't be helped. The various movements of the music (Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) flow into one another slowly building into an exhilarating and glorious crescendo. The first movement rises up in a spirit of jubilation and triumphalism then the music slowly winds down again almost to a heartbeat. And the last movement is slow and melodic with a haunting orchestral choir singing in the background; it completes the suite on a gentle note. The Planets was inspired by Gustav Holst's interests in astronomy and astrology influenced by his long time friend Clifford Bax, he was also a student of ancient Hindu literature and language. If you are just getting interested in classical music "The Planets" is a good place to start, it is highly romantic yet thoroughly modern and relatively easy on the ears.

SOUNDS FINE TO ME.......2004-12-05

Most reviews I have read of this disc seem pretty pleased with both performance and recording. On the other hand I am just slightly influenced by some thoughtful comment I have seen that expresses a few reservations regarding the balance -- to me reviews are 'useful' if they show independent judgment, not if they support my preconceptions which are quite strong enough not to need reinforcing. What this account definitely is is vivid. The orchestral detail is very clear, but if I ask myself whether this is quite how The Planets sounds in the concert hall, then I'm not so sure. I like it this way, but this is not a piece where I am hard to please the way I am about performances of the Viennese classics or Ravel or Sibelius or Elgar or Walton. In general this is a very effective reading of The Planets. The tempi sound about right to me, no doubt because they are much what I am used to, and the playing and orchestral discipline are superb. This is the only disc of The Planets that I own or plan to own because it's not a work I'm fussy about, but connoisseurs may want to consider whether the effectiveness has been slightly overmanipulated by the recording technicians.

Goosebumps!.......2004-11-01

I get goosebumps just THINKING about this CD! I bought it almost 15 years ago, only interested in "Mars - The Bringer of War." At the time it was the only piece I was familiar with. At the time, I had also recently rediscovered the album, "Emerson, Lake and Powell" who did a rock version of "Mars...".

As I am so fond of saying in my reviews, the whole CD blew me away. There were such a wide range of moods included in these pieces from the power of "Mars..." to the sadness of "Saturn..." to the "Uranus..." which makes me feel I'm walking through a foggy wood, these songs still make me smile today.

The way Holst was meant to be performed.......2003-12-19

This is probably my alltime favorite orchestral work, and my most overplayed CD. The Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal does a superb job of interpreting Holst's most famous work.

Mars, for example, with its wide dynamic range, beginning with a very low pianissimo and hitting its climax later (as this movement should), is captured with all the tension and intensity worthy of "The Bringer of War." I played this CD at work one time, and one of my passing co-workers quipped, "boy, this sounds like Star Wars." I don't think he was aware of how appropriate of a description it was!

I also need to mention the segue between Tracks 6 and 7, the transition between Uranus and Neptune. The change is barely perceptible. Uranus ends very quietly, and Neptune begins equally so -- almost to the point where I can't tell one from the other. I have to respect an ensemble that can make this transition in this manner.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable album. If you've never heard this work before, I'd tell you to begin here.

...Celestial.......2003-04-14

Considering that this recording of Holst's most popular works is among a pioneer in digital recordings, it still outshines rival versions. Charles Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra have a natural feeling for mood, rhythm and colour that transpire into the "Planets Suite" that have stood up through the years. The inspiration for "Planets Suite" started with just the simple facination Holst had with astrology that would transcend into music that never existed in english music before and is undoubtedly the most famous of large scale compositions and deservely so because it's a masterpiece in imagination.

Earth being excluded and Pluto yet not discovered, the seven planets would bare original character traits associated with the planets. Mars, the bringer of war starts off thunderously. Venus, the bringer of peace a nostalgic glance with his infatuation with Wagner. Mercury, the winged messenger submerged completely in impressionism, everything is dabs and dashes of sounds. Jupiter, the bringer of jollity, Holst's love of english folksong and dance would be adapted for a patriotic hymn. Saturn, the bringer of old age a procession that winds unrelentlessly. Uranus, the magician a nightmarish version of Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Neptune, the mystic is pure impressionism, a blank picture, all atmosphere...one of the most awe inspiring intimations of the infinite. It ends hauntingly with the receding voices of the Montreal's women chorus.

Holst: The Planets / Dutoit, Montreal Symphony Orchestra (Penguin Music Classics Series)
Average customer rating:

Hey! Move the microphone closer to the band!

One of my favorites

Holy S.....

This is The Planets to own

Worth hearing this performance of "Saturn"

Holst: The Planets / Dutoit, Montreal Symphony Orchestra (Penguin Music Classics Series)
Ethan Canin
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Dutoit, Laurence | ( D ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Jazz | Styles | Music
The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
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Release Date: 1998-09-29

Tracks:

Mars, The Bringer Of War
Venus, The Bringer Of Peace
Mercury, The Winged Messenger
Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity
Saturn, The Bringer Of Old Age
Uranus, The Magician
Neptune, The Mystic

Amazon.com

In the CD's liner notes, novelist Ethan Canin's analysis of Holst's The Planets describes the composition to be the source material for most of the great cinema's scores. It's a fact he learned from his father--a violinist who left the San Francisco Symphony to pursue Hollywood studio work and kept referring back to The Planets as a source of inspiration. Holst's work--a composition for each planet in the solar system minus Earth and Pluto--was considered revolutionary in 1916 and it still sounds convincing today. Mars, the Bringer of War is a violent work that deserves a place in any sci-fi shoot out, while Mercury, the Winged Messenger is pure pastoral impressionism. Filled with moodswings and folk influences, Holst created a classic--a musical portrait of astrology eight decades before the term "new age" was infused into our vocabulary. This recording, featuring Charles Dutoit conducting the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, is a keeper. The orchestra's mastery of Holst is apparent throughout, especially on more powerful cuts, such as Mars and Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

Hey! Move the microphone closer to the band!.......2006-10-03

This recording is extremely quiet, requiring you to put the volume up to 11 to even hear anything quieter than the loudest crescendos on "Venus" or "Mercury." I typically copy CDs to my computer, and this recording required some amplification (I use the Audacity program) to correct the problem for computer playback, and you have to turn the car stereo all the way up to listen to the CD on the road. However, once you turn up your hearing aid, this is an all-around excellent recording ("Mars, Bringer of War" is heavier than the heaviest heavy metal could even imagine being).

One of my favorites.......2006-04-22

I was directed to this recording of The Planets by a composer friend of mine, who stated at the time that it was generally accepted amongst classical musicians as the best recording available. I have a couple other recordings, including one by Tomita, and I've seen it performed by (I believe) the Denver Symphony, but I have to agree this seems to be the standard to follow. The performance is articulate and flawless and the sound quality of the recording itself is superb.

Holy S............2005-12-28

Now. For a couple of reasons:
1. A piece of recording history (Dutoit at the height of his powers)
2. Some of the finest brass playing I have ever heard in my entire life.
3. fantastic sound quality
4. An unprecedented interpretation
5. clear, crisp, dead-accurate unity of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra
6. An excellent price.
7. Because it bewilders me that this is not an "essential CD" on the Amazon list
I don't think I will ever hear a more balanced, quintessential, Planets than this one.
I spent the last summer observing Dutoit conduct the Philedelphia in Saratoga almost every other day. His series of concerts in 2005 were incredible and inspring. Listening to this recording truly reinforces the position of the French master.
I've heard Karajan's, Boult's, and Previn's with the RPO. Karajan's is rather grounded, Boult's is the most elegant, and Previn's captures each mood perfectly. These recordings are all great but you'll be going back to this one every time. It will combine all the Balance, Elegance, and mood into one perfect Performance.
Absolutely Stunning.

This is The Planets to own.......2005-09-30

Short and sweet: If you have a good playback system, this is the version of Holst's "The Planets" to have. Period.

The Montreal Symphony under the direction of Charles Dutoit delivers the kind of sonic impression (and fireworks!) that give this recording a real "you are there" feeling. From the deepest organ pedal (if your system can reproduce it -- most can't) from around 8 minutes into Saturn that will rattle the windows, scare the cat and help you break your lease to the most delicate strings and precision percussion, this is the performance that you will return to time and time again. Absolutely stunning. I've owned several versions of The Planets but none compare to this. It isn't even close.

Worth hearing this performance of "Saturn".......2005-05-07

The "hype" for Gustav Holst's "The Planets" is absolutely true: this is one of the great leaps of the musical imagination. Drawing upon the mythological origins of the names of the planets of the solar systems (excluding Earth and the as-yet-undiscovered Pluto), Holst created a seven-movement suite that is still today beloved for its compelling musical visions and thrilling orchestrations. "The Planets" is, to this day, an enchanting and completely memorable work...especially if it is given a well-played, sympathetic performance.

For the most part, that is what Charles Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra provide in this CD (which only contains the suite). Sure, perhaps at times the playing could use a bit more savage bite---the strings sometimes sound a bit thin, at least compared to the string section of, say, the Berlin Philharmonic---but, when it counts, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra can deliver the goods. And Charles Dutoit's interpretation overall is splendid: sensitive to atmosphere and mood, but also attentive to the bigger picture, movement by movement and as a whole.

Now, for those of you may never have heard this work, you might be thinking, "as a whole? This sounds like simply like a collection of seven little tone poems. What do you mean by 'as a whole'?" Sure, "The Planets" is not exactly a symphony, per se. But, at least as Dutoit and his orchestra play it, there is a center of sorts to the whole work, and that center is "Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age." In the previous four movements, Holst follows up the orchestral battle of "Mars, the Bringer of War" with three basically positive movements: the ethereal "Venus, the Bringer of Peace" (a little slow in this performance, but ravishing nevertheless); the quicksilver "Mercury, the Winged Messenger"; and the alternately joyous and yearning "Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity," with its highly tuneful central theme.

But then "Saturn" comes creaking in, and suddenly the work goes into altogether darker waters. And this is where this performance really hits its stride. Not even Adrian Boult---who is often considered an authority in this work, and whose last EMI recording of the work (now a part of the "Great Recordings of the Century" series) should be heard as well---is as viscerally frightening as Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra are in rendering Holst's unforgettable depiction of the frailty and fear of death that comes in old age. I would almost say that what took Mahler four long movements to express in his Ninth Symphony, Holst takes in about 10 minutes to express in "Saturn"; a clamorous orchestra tutti with bells and brass prominent gives way to the soft-voiced acceptance of death that closes the movement. The final note---as does the final note of the concluding Adagio of Mahler's Ninth---seems to fade away into oblivion. All of this is fantastically interpreted by Dutoit and performed by the Montreal Symphony Orchestra; their performance of this movement alone makes this disc worth the purchase.

And so on, from the medium-speed "Sorcerer's Apprentice"-style happenings of "Uranus, the Magician", to "Neptune, the Mystic", a truly mystical finale that introduces a wordless female choir into the mix in its second half. This choir-dominated part of the movement has always struck me as something of a brilliant afterthought, a cool orchestral effect Holst simply couldn't resist putting in, even if the movement could conceivably have been effective without it. (The section is also, strangely, marked "Allegro", although Dutoit takes it at a much slower, arguably more effectively atmospheric tempo.) But the ending, in a way, is magical: as the choir repeats the same two notes and become softer and softer, it is as if we are slowly being transported out of Holst's musical solar system and into some sort of great beyond.

(Very minor) misgivings aside, Holst's "The Planets" is still one of the great glories of orchestral literature, one whose pleasures of the imagination will hopefully always remain fresh. And Charles Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, for the most part, do the work justice. As mentioned before, Sir Adrian Boult's EMI recording of the work from the late 1970s is also worth hearing, a quite different but no less compelling interpretation powerfully played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra (and more fiercely recorded than this more natural-sounding Decca disc). But Dutoit's reading is worthy of your attention nevertheless, especially for the fantastic and deeply moving "Saturn." Recommended.

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