Customer Reviews

Holst: The Planets

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

From the juggernaut which is "Mars" to the ethereal sounds of "Neptune", this may well be the best version of Holst's ever popular score on CD.

Karajan and his Berlin forces present "Mars" as an awesomely terrifying war-machine, powerful and unstoppable. Their's is a sensual "Venus" with appropriately seductive playing by the strings. "Mercury" & "Jupiter" are expertly executed, but if you're looking for the "I Vow to thee my Country" melody to be done in the "sun-never-sets-on-the British-Empire" manner I suggest you try the recordings by Ormandy or Bernstein instead. (No, not even Boult is as "majestic" as they are!)
"Saturn" is cold and inevitable (though no one tops Dutoit in this movement) while "Uranus" is given a rowdy performance with a truly resplendent organ glissando. "Neptune" is otherworldly, even if the final fade-out doesn't linger as it should. And that may be my only complaint about this recording. The early digital engineering, while full sounding and detailed, displays some of the chilliness that marked some of DG's recordings of the early 1980's. (I'm auditioning from the original issue, perhaps the "Karajan Gold" edition has dampened the digital glare.)

I would not want to be without one of Sir Adrian Boult's authoritative accounts (preferably one of the stereo EMI recordings), nor would I give up Dutoit's magnificently recorded and colorfully fresh rendition. Not to mention Geoffrey Simon's fine account which is practically a steal on the super-budget LaserLight label! (But I did just mention it, didn't I?!)
But I think if I had to live with just one recording of Holst's wondrous work it most likely would be this magnificent account by Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic!

I have read what other customers thought of that CD and I really appreciate the fact that everybody think different. For myself, I must admit that it is the best recording ever that I heard of The Planets of Gustav Holst. Though I did not heard all of them, I simply believe that Karajan's vision is one of the best. Some are saying that Karajan is a mediocre conductor, but I think he's just misunderstood. He knows how to give a powerful interpretation when needed (Mars, Jupiter) and a calm but solid one in other cases (Saturn). Severe he was and stubborn, but it worth the price. Like one of the reviewer here said, you must judge this recording with your ears and not with your logic. Boult, Bernstein, Gardiner, Simon and other great names can influence a critic, but that critic won't be reality. It is definitely one of the best recording of The Planets. In fact, Karajan is the one who conducts it the most similarly the way Holst did.

I just received the Previn version of this piece for my birthday, and while listening to it needed to come straight here to purchase the Karajan version. I had the DG Karajan on vinyl and thought it to be incredibly precise and powerful. The Previn version seems sloppy in parts (or my mind doesn't agree with his interpretation of the rhythms of the piece.) With the Karajan version I'm swept into an emotional surge - the lightness I hear complained about - to ME is simply representative of the dynamic range of the piece. Start it soft, when it gets loud (on it's own) it will blow you out of your chair.

Gustav Holst's THE PLANETS has survived criticism, overuse in programming, and audience responses, often times being cast into the 'Hollywood Music' category. But the work is a viable one and this recording by Herbert von Karajan with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus unveils many of the reasons.

As once again we have astronauts floating in space Holst's description of the planets in musical terms takes on special meaning. Perhaps that immediacy blends the images we receive from the satellites and makes the various planets seem more real. But von Karajan created his own wondrously painted images of each of the planets is this splendid recording, raising the standard for interpretation and emotional commitment to a new high. The orchestra responds with both fierce vigor and ethereal floating eloquence depending on the movement.

Though there are many superb recordings of this suite, for the novice collector this recording is a fine starting point. For the serious collector of exciting orchestral sound and performance this recording is a must. Grady Harp, July 06

This recording of Gustav Holst's most famous work is an excellent version for those just beginning to appreciate the work of the master. Karajan's interpretation, while obviously under debate, is the definitive one in my opinion. I am not musically trained and so am coming at this from purely a listening standpoint, but I feel nothing but pleasure every time I revisit this wonderful orchestration.

Do yourself a favor and get introduced to one of the most underappreciated composers.

There seems to be something of a general consensus among classical record fans that Karajan's latter-day digital recordings are a pale shadow of his earlier, analogue recorded greatness. Although this could be true as far as his Beethoven Symphonies cycle is concerned, he did make some very fine recordings towards the end of his life, and this 1981 recording of Holst's masterpiece is certainly one of them, with excellent early digital sound recorded in well-balanced stereo, and Karajan's mastering of the enormous forces of the Berlin Philharmonic managing to create some awe-inspiring beauty for Mercury and Venus, a terrifying and loud Mars, a stirring Jupiter, and an ethereal Neptune, with much to enjoy in between. Definitely one of Karajan's finest recordings and one of the best 'The Planets' out there, this is excellent for newcomers to the work and dedicated fans alike.

Contrary to what others have written, this is a well thought out, perfectly executed, fiery recording. The orchestral playing is 2nd to none and I have heard most of the other notable versions. Karajan has recorded this 3 times and this is the best. Wonderful redition of a masterpiece.

Herbert von Karajan's 1981 recording of Holst's Symphonic cycle THE PLANETS may look good, but it is overrated. Karajan's mighty Berlin Philharmonic makes an impressive sound, but his interpretation is not well thought out. Tempos are often fast and slap-dash, and some great dramatic moments are glossed over.
"Mars, the bringer of war" is not as terrifying as it is noisy;
"Jupiter, the bringer of jollity" seems rushed, especially in the central hymn like section (later adapted as "I vow to thee, my country"). There is beautiful playing by individual members of the Berlin Philharmonic, especially the woodwinds, but it doesn't add up to a great recording: in short, the sum of the equation is less than the parts.

Karajan recorded THE PLANETS in the 1960s with the Vienna Philharmonic for Decca. Some critics believe it to be superior to this Berlin recording, but I cannot comment, as I haven't heard Karajan/Vienna. The recordings I have heard and can recommend are: Maazel/Orchestra National de France (Sony);
Dutoit/Montreal (Decca); Mehta/Los Angeles (Decca); and Lloyd-Jones/Royal Scottish (Naxos). Maazel is especially savage and brutal in "Mars" and the French orchestra responds well to his conducting: a very good recording made about 1980.

As with anything that touches upon the eternal, after the technical is accomplished, then it is a matter of preference. Here we have the Herbert Von Karajan version.

Placed side-by-side with any other version the technical parts are excellent. You are immediately taken to that other world as Mars takes over. You may be able to argue minor differences but then you are not listening to it.

The tough call is preference; most people prefer the version with which they grew up. Others may have some preferences based on what they should like. Listen to this and make up your own mind.

During the process of listening, thinking about the music and noticing how Holst capture the mood of each planet, note that he did not make up the concepts of which planet was War, Peace, Messenger, etc. They are the definitions of the original gods that the planets were named after. Each god had the attributes we see given to the planets. You may want to read about them and then come back to the music.

Holst: The Planets / R. Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra

I have to say that this is not one Karjan's best performances, but it is by no means his worst. "The Planets" is an extremely difficult piece to record because it is so well known...therefore every mistake will be blatently obvious and any personal interpretation will be received with disdain. After reading one of the previous reviews, I can say that Karajan is certainly not mediocre in his conducting--Deutsche Grammaphon wouldn't have used him in so many of it's recordings if he were. Granted, he has his problems, especially with his unfortunate ability to let things get out of control (which is very obvious in any of his conducting of Stravisnsky or Shostakovich), and there are some points in this recording when I wonder if I here more noise than music. But these parts are very minimal, and for the most part, this is one of the best recordings on the market. Karajan very aptly uses a wide range of tempos and dynamics, which is the true driving force of this suite. The orchestra is extremely precise, making the counter-melodies seem much more a part of the music, rather than unnecessary backgroun nonsense. And one of the best things about this recording is that Karajan perfectly ballances the brass, woodwinds, and percussion with the strings--most recordings have either "blast-you-out-of-your-seat" brass, or almost none at all. Karjan very elegantly uses the strings when appropriate, and brings out the full spectrum of the orchestra. This recording is definately one of the best ever manufactured by the label, and it is, without a doubt, an essential to any classical music collection.