Holst: The Perfect Fool / The Planets

Editorial Reviews
Album Details
Recorded January 1995 Athe Teatro Perez Galdos in Las Palmas De Gran Canaria.

Holst: The Perfect Fool / The Planets, Music, Gustav Holst, Adrian Leaper, Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra, British 20th/21st Century Opera, Classical, Opera, Orchestral, Orchestral & Symphonic, Suite for Orchestra
Spirit of England II
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Surpassingly beautiful
  • Magnificent selection of British music--light and serious
 Spirit of England II

Manufacturer: Nimbus Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. The Spirit of England
  2. A Portrait of Vaughan Williams

ASIN: B0000037GB
Release Date: 1995-10-03

Tracks:

  1. Ste: The Planets, Op.32: Mars, The Bringer Of War - Philharmonia Orch/William Boughton
  2. Ste: The Planets, Op.32: Venus, The Bringer Of Peace - Philharmonia Orch/William Boughton
  3. Ste: The Planets, Op.32: Mercury, The Winged Messenger - Philharmonia Orch/William Boughton
  4. Ste: The Planets, Op.32: Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity - Philharmonia Orch/William Boughton
  5. Ste: The Planets, Op.32: Saturn, The Bringer Of Old Age - Philharmonia Orch/William Boughton
  6. Ste: The Planets, Op.32: Uranus, The Magician - Philharmonia Orch/William Boughton
  7. Ste: The Planets, Op.32: Neptune, The Mystic - Philharmonia Orch/William Boughton
  8. The Perfect Fool, Op.39: Ballet Music - Philharmonia Orch/William Boughton

Tracks:

  1. Vars On An Original Theme, Enigma, Op.36: Enigma - English SO/William Boughton
  2. Vars On An Original Theme, Enigma, Op.36: I. C.A.E. - English SO/William Boughton
  3. Vars On An Original Theme, Enigma, Op.36: II. H.D.S.P. - English SO/William Boughton
  4. Vars On An Original Theme, Enigma, Op.36: III. R.B.T. - English SO/William Boughton
  5. Vars On An Original Theme, Enigma, Op.36: IV. W.M.B. - English SO/William Boughton
  6. Vars On An Original Theme, Enigma, Op.36: V. R.P.A. - English SO/William Boughton
  7. Vars On An Original Theme, Enigma, Op.36: VI. Ysobel - English SO/William Boughton
  8. Vars On An Original Theme, Enigma, Op.36: VII. Troyte - English SO/William Boughton
  9. Vars On An Original Theme, Enigma, Op.36: VIII. W.N. - English SO/William Boughton
  10. Vars On An Original Theme, Enigma, Op.36: IX. Nimrod - English SO/William Boughton
  11. Vars On An Original Theme, Enigma, Op.36: X. Dorabella - English SO/William Boughton E
  12. Vars On An Original Theme, Enigma, Op.36: XI. G.R.S. - English SO/William Boughton
  13. Vars On An Original Theme, Enigma, Op.36: XII. B.G.N. - English SO/William Boughton
  14. Vars On An Original Theme, Enigma, Op.36: XIII. *** (Romanza) - English SO/William Boughton
  15. Vars On An Original Theme, Enigma, Op.36: XIV. E.D.U. (Finale) - English SO/William Boughton
  16. The Wand Of Youth Ste No.2, Op.1b: I. March - English Str Orch/William Boughton
  17. The Wand Of Youth Ste No.2, Op.1b: II. The Little Bells, Scherzino - English Str Orch/William Boughton
  18. The Wand Of Youth Ste No.2, Op.1b: III. Moths And Butterflies, Dance - English Str Orch/William Boughton
  19. The Wand Of Youth Ste No.2, Op.1b: IV. Fountain Dance - English Str Orch/William Boughton
  20. The Wand Of Youth Ste No.2, Op.1b: V. The Tame Bear - English Str Orch/William Boughton
  21. The Wand Of Youth Ste No.2, Op.1b: VI. The Wild Bears - English Str Orch/William Boughton
  22. An English Ste: I. Prld - English Str Orch/William Boughton
  23. An English Ste: II. In Minuet Style - English Str Orch/William Boughton
  24. An English Ste: III. Saraband - English Str Orch/William Boughton
  25. An English Ste: IV. Pastoral - English Str Orch/William Boughton
  26. An English Ste: V. Air - English Str Orch/William Boughton
  27. An English Ste: VI. Frolic - English Str Orch/William Boughton

Tracks:

  1. Eclogue - Martin Jones
  2. There Is A Willow Grows Aslant A Brook - English Str Orch/William Boughton
  3. Florida Ste: Daybreak - English SO/William Boughton
  4. Florida Ste: By The River - English SO/William Boughton
  5. Florida Ste: Sunset - English SO/William Boughton
  6. Florida Ste: At Night - English SO/William Boughton

Tracks:

  1. Ov: The Wasps - English SO/William Boughton
  2. A Downland Ste: Minuet - English Str Orch/William Boughton
  3. Henry V: Two Pieces: Passacaglia: Death Of Falstaff - English Str Orch/William Boughton
  4. Henry V: Two Pieces: Touch Her Soft Lips And Part - English Str Orch/William Boughton
  5. Ser: I. Vivace - English Str Orch/William Boughton
  6. Ser: II. Andantino - English Str Orch/William Boughton
  7. Ser: III. Allegro Moderato - English Str Orch/William Boughton
  8. Ser: IV. Lento - English Str Orch/William Boughton
  9. Four Sea Interludes: Dawn - English SO/William Boughton
  10. Four Sea Interludes: Sunday Morning - English SO/William Boughton
  11. Four Sea Interludes: Moonlight - English SO/William Boughton
  12. Four Sea Interludes: Storm - English SO/William Boughton
  13. The Young Person's Guide To The Orch - English SO/William Boughton

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Surpassingly beautiful.......2001-08-02

This is a terrific anthology of classical orchestral pieces by twentieth-century British composers. This spectacular set includes the hauntingly beautiful Eclogue by Gerald Finzi, Death of Falstaff by William Walton and other fine works by such greats as Benjamin Britten, Ralph Vaughn Williams and Frederick Delius. I bought this collection for one particular piece (Eclogue) and found the entire set well worth the price.

Just one final note about Eclogue: composer Gerald Finzi worked on this piece for piano and orchestra for decades (l920s - 1956) and died before it was named or performed. It was first performed in a memorial concert dedicated to Finzi. This piece is truly a passionate and fitting elegy for a supremely-talented composer. There is a brief section in the work which is performed in triple time. Without fail, whenever I listen to it, my heart starts to beat in triple time, my throat tightens and I have to take a moment to recover. It is a rare work that can evoke such a strong response.

5 out of 5 stars Magnificent selection of British music--light and serious.......2000-06-14

Ah, the rarity of the following statement: This second edition outdoes the first by, well, a good kilometer--and that is no easy feat. Spirit of England II is a beautifully crafted, four-disc compliation of the finest in British neo-classical and light music (circa 1880-1980). There is the familiar (The Planets, Enigma Variations) and the less-so (Finzi's Ecologue, Elgar's The Wand of Youth). Add in the delightful (Ireland's Downland Suite minuet) and the achingly beautiful (Walton's "Touch Her Soft Lips and Part" string instrumental from his Henry V score) and you have over four hours of aural bliss.
Orff: Carmina Burana, scenic cantata
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • What a Great Deal!
 Orff: Carmina Burana, scenic cantata
Carl Orff , Gustav Holst , David Hill , Sir Charles Mackerras , Janice Watson , James Bowman , Donald Maxwell , Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra , and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by HolstAll Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by OrffAll Works by Orff | Orff, Carl | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00000C2K8
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

  1. Carmina Burana: No. 1 O Fortuna
  2. Carmina Burana: No. 2 Fortune plango vulnera
  3. Carmina Burana: No. 3 Veris leta facies
  4. Carmina Burana: No. 4 Omnis Sol temperat
  5. Carmina Burana: No. 5 Ecce gratum
  6. Carmina Burana: NO. 6 Tanz
  7. Carmina Burana: No. 7 Floret silva nobilis
  8. Carmina Burana: No. 8 Chramer, gip die warve mir
  9. Carmina Burana: No. 9 Reie - Swaz hie gat umbe - Chume, chum geselle min - Swaz hie gat umbe
  10. Carmina Burana: No. 10 Were diu werlt alle min
  11. Carmina Burana: No. 11 Estuans interius
  12. Carmina Burana: No. 12 Olim lacus colueram
  13. Carmina Burana: No. 13 Ego sum abbas
  14. Carmina Burana: No. 14 In taberna quando sumus
  15. Carmina Burana: No. 15 Amor volat undique
  16. Carmina Burana: No. 16 Dies, nox et omnia
  17. Carmina Burana: No. 17 Stetit puella
  18. Carmina Burana: No. 18 Circa mea pectora
  19. Carmina Burana: No. 19 Si puer cum puellula
  20. Carmina Burana: No. 20 Veni, veni, venias
  21. Carmina Burana: No. 21 In trutina
  22. Carmina Burana: No. 22 Tempus est iocundum
  23. Carmina Burana: No. 23 Dulcissime
  24. Carmina Burana: No. 24 Ave formosissima
  25. Carmina Burana: No. 25 O Fortuna

Tracks:

  1. The Planets, Ste, Op.32: Mars, The Bringer Of War
  2. The Planets, Ste, Op.32: Venus, The Bringer Of Peace
  3. The Planets, Ste, Op.32: Mercury, The Winged Messenger
  4. The Planets, Ste, Op.32: Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity
  5. The Planets, Ste, Op.32: Saturn, The Bringer Of Old Age
  6. The Planets, Ste, Op.32: Uranus, The Magician
  7. The Planets, Ste, Op.32: Neptune, The Mystic
  8. The Perfect Fool: Ballet Music From The Perfect Fool - Holst

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars What a Great Deal!.......2002-11-17

There is no need to debate the merits of either of the two major works featured on this two-CD set. Both Carmina Burana and The Planets are sweeping and amazingly beautiful works. The orchestration, the melodies, the grandeur, and the timelessness are all beautifully captured in these readings by David Hill and Sir Charles Mackerras.

While the Bournemouth Symphony (Carmina Burana) and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic (The Planets) may sound like obscure orchestras, the sonic excellence and maturity on these two CDs are enough to rival any other recording I've heard of these pieces. O Fortuna whips into a raging torrent and lights a fervent fire that doesn't extinguish until its terror returns twenty-four movements later. Mars burns with the fury and tumult of war, and Jupiter's jovial boisterousness is displayed in full, while its passionate central lyrical section overflows with expressiveness. These recent (1989 and 1995) DDD performances feature sound that literally fills the room. The engineering is perfect in that it serves to underscore the sweeping scope of these pieces.

The other piece, the Ballet Music from the Perfect Fool could be considered a time filler, though it is by no means to be considered a "weak" or "lesser" piece. Its merits are clear, and, as with the rest of the other two pieces, the orchestra brings out its best qualities.

Combine this expert playing, engineering, and conducting with a great price for a double-CD and you get an undeniably good deal. I typically shy away from inexpensive recordings, fearing inferior quality. Such is not the case here. These recordings would sell just as well if the price were doubled, because the recordings are at least that good. Buy it for yourself and find out what I mean.
Holst: Music for Two Pianos
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • This is true "New Age" music.
  • A very impressive experience!
  • The best recording of Holst I have ever heard
 Holst: Music for Two Pianos

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by HolstAll Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000009OMF
Release Date: 1998-07-28

Tracks:

  1. The Planets, Op. 32: Mars, The Bringer Of War
  2. The Planets, Op. 32: Venus, The Bringer Of Peace
  3. The Planets, Op. 32: Mercury, The Winged Messenger
  4. The Planets, Op. 32: Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity
  5. The Planets, Op. 32: Saturn, The Bringer Of Old Age
  6. The Planets, Op. 32: Uranus, The Magician
  7. The Planets, Op. 32: Neptune, The Mystic
  8. Ballet From The Perfect Fool, Op. 39: Andante, Dance Of Spirits Of Earth, Of Water, And Of Fire

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars This is true "New Age" music........2001-11-13

If you love Gustav Holst & The Planets but have heard the orchestral version one (or one-hundred) too many times, Holst's original arrangement for two pianos will bring his musical zodiac to life once more.

The two piano version highlights the Stravinskian qualities, not to mention the flavors of Richard Strauss & British late-impressionism, which were all drifting through England's cultural climate at the time. Of course, there's also plenty of British rural folk song influence. The entire suite is permeated with Holst's mysticism. He knew his astrology & was on familiar terms with the shadowy aspects of the Isles. Only Neptune doesn't quite work without the ethereal female choir. I think the pianists should made a place for a voice or voices in that movement.

The three lovely Spirit Dances from The Perfect Fool ballet are ideal choices to round out the album, as the basic elements of Earth, Water & Fire (no Air?) join their planetary counterparts.

All-in-all, a grand piano experience!

Recorded in Australia, 1997. Good liner notes. Total time: 44:41 (Planets) plus 10:45 (Perfect Fool).

5 out of 5 stars A very impressive experience!.......2000-07-05

I bought this CD, no lacking curiosity of how was going to sound Holst's signature work on a two piano version... And I got really and completely satisfied!

The quality of the recording is top, so does the interpretation. Once again, NAXOS gives us a recording to enjoy from head to toe...

The tempos are very well equilibrated and the fortes and pianos are interestingly achieved.

Everyone can easily get impressed with Mars and Saturn and there is some kind of impresionist air in the other planets which are, indeed, influenced by the new dimension in which we are: the intimacy between the sound of the pianos and your own presence.

If you have ever listen to the original work in its full orchestrated version, whoever the director is, this one is a very recommendable alternative to enjoy it too!

5 out of 5 stars The best recording of Holst I have ever heard.......1999-06-09

Exquisite recording
Holst: The Planets / The Perfect Fool (Ballet Music) - Philharmonia Orchestra / William Boughton
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Holst: The Planets / The Perfect Fool (Ballet Music) - Philharmonia Orchestra / William Boughton

    Manufacturer: Nimbus Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    All Works by HolstAll Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    SuitesSuites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    EnglishEnglish | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    ASIN: B000050UT2
    Release Date: 1992-12-02
    Holst: Planets, suite for orchestra (or pianos) Op32; Perfect Fool H150
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Holst: Planets, suite for orchestra (or pianos) Op32; Perfect Fool H150

      Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      All Works by HolstAll Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      SuitesSuites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
      Royal Liverpool PhilharmonicRoyal Liverpool Philharmonic | ( R ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      EnglishEnglish | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      ASIN: B00000DNZ7
      Release Date: 1992-09-23
      Holst: The Planets/Perfect Fool
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		Holst: The Planets/Perfect Fool
        Holst , Mackerras , and Rpo
        Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD
        ASIN: B00004VG0D
        Release Date: 1991-09-03
        Holst: The Planets/The Perfect Fool
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          		Holst: The Planets/The Perfect Fool

          Manufacturer: Nimbus
          ProductGroup: Music
          Binding: Audio CD

          All Works by HolstAll Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
          SuitesSuites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
          GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
          GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
          EnglishEnglish | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
          ASIN: B00000E06K
          Release Date: 1988-01-01
          Holst: The Perfect Fool / The Planets
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            		Holst: The Perfect Fool / The Planets

            Manufacturer: Arte Nova Records
            ProductGroup: Music
            Binding: Audio CD

            All Works by HolstAll Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
            SuitesSuites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
            GeneralGeneral | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
            GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
            GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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            CDs Under $7CDs Under $7 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
            All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
            ASIN: B000005I65
            Release Date: 1998-01-01

            Tracks:

            1. The Perfect Fool: Dance Of The Spirits Of Earth
            2. The Perfect Fool: Dance Of The Spirits Of Water
            3. The Perfect Fool: Dance Of The Spirits Of Fire
            4. The Planets: Mars, The Bringer Of War
            5. The Planets: Venus, The Bringer Of Peace
            6. The Planets: Mercury, The Winged Messenger
            7. The Planets: Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity
            8. The Planets: Saturn, The Bringer Of Old Age
            9. The Planets: Uranus, The Magician
            10. The Planets: Neptune, The Mystic

            Album Details

            Recorded January 1995 Athe Teatro Perez Galdos in Las Palmas De Gran Canaria.
            British Composers: Holst
            Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
            • The Perfect Fool and Egdon Heath Are Perfectly Previn
            • Best Planets out there
            • Perfect Fool & Egdon Heath Get 5 Stars--Planets Get Only 3
            		 British Composers: Holst

            Manufacturer: Angel Records
            ProductGroup: Music
            Binding: Audio CD

            All Works by HolstAll Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
            SuitesSuites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
            SymphoniesSymphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music | Baroque | Classical | General | Modern & 20th Century | Romantic | Sinfonia | Sinfonia Concertante
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            GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
            GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
            EnglishEnglish | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
            ASIN: B00000GCAW
            Release Date: 1999-01-12

            Tracks:

            1. Perfect Fool Op.39: Perfect Fool: Andante
            2. Perfect Fool Op.39: Perfect Fool: Dance Of Spirits Of Earth (Moderato - Andante)
            3. Perfect Fool Op.39: Perfect Fool: Dance Of Spirits Of Water (Allegretto)
            4. Perfect Fool Op.39: Perfect Fool: Dance Of Spirits Of Fire (Allegro moderato)
            5. Egdon Heath - Homage to Harty Op.47
            6. The Planets Suite Op.32: 1: Mars, The Bringer Of War
            7. The Planets Suite Op.32: 2: Venus, The Bringer Of Peace
            8. The Planets Suite Op.32: 3: Mercury, The Winged Messenger
            9. The Planets Suite Op.32: 4: Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity
            10. The Planets Suite Op.32: 5: Saturn, The Bringer Of Old Age
            11. The Planets Suite Op.32: 6: Uranus, The Magician
            12. The Planets Suite Op.32: 7: Neptune, The Mystic

            Customer Reviews:

            5 out of 5 stars The Perfect Fool and Egdon Heath Are Perfectly Previn.......2001-08-17

            Holst's "The Perfect Fool" and "Egdon Heath: Homage to Thomas Hardy" performed by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andre Previn are very good. Holst's "The Planets" by the New Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Sir Adrian Boult sounds flat and monochromic. There is just no power behind "The Planets" recording. The TELARC Compact Disc "Gustav Holst: The Planets, Op 32" performed by the Royal Philarmonic Orchestra conducted by Andre Previn is my favorite. However, "The Perfect Fool" and "Egdon Heath" recordings on this CD are excellent and make this Compact Disc highly desirable.

            5 out of 5 stars Best Planets out there.......2001-01-03

            Sure, it may not be the best technical reading of the planets. The sound isn't the best, and the orchestra has its share of flubs, but Boult's view of this work is IMHO unbeatable. This recording has that space like sound, or rather it has that science fiction movie sound to it. Mars is tremendous on this recording, with lots of power and momentum. Sure, there is that famous trumpet clam near the beginning, but it's not something that is particularly terrible, because it does not sound like a mistake to someone who has never heard the piece before (It's nearly an ornament.) However, the climaxes in Mars puts Dutoit's Mars to shame. Jupiter is another highlight on this disc, with the fanfare sections (before and after the 'big' theme) never sounding better. Uranus may be a problem for some because of the slower tempo, but all the climaxes are there as well as lots of color from the orchestra. Neptune is superb as well. It's hard to tell whether you are still hearing the voices at the end or if it's just the imagination. All around, this has to be my favorite recording of "The Planets." I am completely satisfied. This is Boult's 4th recording, with the New Philharmonia. His 5th recording on EMI is also worthy of praise, but the tempi are much slower (which may appeal to some people.) Plus, the extra fillers on the disc are also A+. Not a disc to miss out on!

            4 out of 5 stars Perfect Fool & Egdon Heath Get 5 Stars--Planets Get Only 3.......2000-04-27

            It's not Adrian Boult's fault, just that the sound balance is not great on the Planets, which is the type of orchestral music you play to test new speakers out. Get John Eliot Gardiner's version w/Philharmonia Orch on Deutsche Gram. for this sort of expressive power and clarity, or Boult's more famous London Symphony recording if you want an older recording. Get this version for Perfect Fool and Egdon Heath; they both have a fine recording sound and are excellent examples of Holst's musical imagination.
            Gustav Holst: The Planets; The Perfect Fool
            Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
            • From Mercury to Neptune
            		 Gustav Holst: The Planets; The Perfect Fool

            Manufacturer: Arte Nova Classics
            ProductGroup: Music
            Binding: Audio CD

            All Works by HolstAll Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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            GeneralGeneral | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
            GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
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            ASIN: B000A2UBSY
            Release Date: 2005-08-09

            Tracks:

            1. Dance Of The Spirits Of Earth
            2. Dance Of The Spirits Of Water
            3. Dance Of The Spirits Of Fire
            4. Mars, The Bringer Of War
            5. Venus, The Bringer Of Peace
            6. Mercury, The Winged Messenger
            7. Jupiter, The Bring Of Jollity
            8. Saturn, The Bringer Of Old Age
            9. Uranus, The Magician
            10. Neptune, The Mystic

            Customer Reviews:

            3 out of 5 stars From Mercury to Neptune.......2007-04-05

            Leaper's rendition "The Planets", Holst's most popular (and only recognizeable) work, with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Grand Canary is a good one. He isn't, however, as great as other conductors (say, Charles Dutoit or Andre Previn), but he is still very good. "Mars: The Bringer of War" is loud, but the terror of it seems just a bit smoothed over. "Venus: The Bringer of Love" is charming and very meditative. The strings in "Mercury: The Winged Messenger" needs some more work when they're being played at a fast speed. Leaper's interpretation of "Jupiter: The Bringer of Jollity" doesn't come close to Previn's when it comes to beauty and precision, but it still does have some nice mellow flow. "Saturn: The Bringer of Old Age" is as beautiful as Dutoit's Saturn, and it is certainly better than the dull rendition of John Eliot Gardiner. For "Uranus: The Magician", I'm a bit indecisive. It has that full terror and humor that Previn has unveiled, but it doesn't have the energetic juice that Dutoit unveiled, so I guess it goes in the middle. "Neptune: The Mystic" is too soft sometimes, but the eerieness of the woman's choir makes up for it. This is the first time that I have heard the ballet music of "The Perfect Fool", so I can't compare it to others; all I can say is that it sounds good.

            All in all, while this doesn't even come close to the grand masters of the Planets, it is still a good listen.

            Track Listings:

            1. Iannis Xenakis 1: Chamber Music 1955-1990
            2. In Sara Mencken Christ & Beethoven There Were Men
            3. J.S. Bach & Telemann: Funeral Cantatas [Import]
            4. Jacob Obrecht: Missa Maria Zart
            5. Jorge Liderman: The Song of Songs
            6. Joseph Haydn: London Symphonies Nos. 93, 94 "The Surprise" & 95
            7. Kemp Conducts Richard Strauss-2
            8. Kid's Classics: Toys
            9. Korngold: Symphony; Much Ado about Nothing Suite
            10. La Banda: Traditional Italian Banda & Jazz

            Track Listings

            track listings

            Track Listings

            Another Live [Import] [Live]

            David Maslanka: Quintets Nos. 1-3

            Die Happy

            1932-1937

            Wake Up Process

            Forever Soul, Vol. 4

            Every Kind of Mood: Randy, Randi, Randee

            Fratres

            Gospel Classics, Vol. 1

            Boss of the Soul: Stream Trombone

            Days of Wine & Roses

            Final 60's [Original recording remastered] [Import]

            Don't Stop [CD-single] [EP]

            Breathe on Me

            Soul Eyes