Customer Reviews

Holst: The Planets

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

The two conductors take similar tempi in most of the movements (the main difference being in "Venus," where Dutoit is noticeably slower, but I did not find that to make as big a difference in my enjoyment of the movement as I thought it might when I read the timings. Both versions have their virtues, although neither matches Karajan for sheer beauty) and the sound quality of both recordings is exemplary. The RCA (engineered by Tony Faulkner using "24-bit technology" [which we will assume refers to the technical specs, not the cost]) is slightly warmer and more distant in sound than the London recording (engineered by John Dunkerley with, presumably, 16-bit equipment), but the difference is not a great one. Both recordings, by the way, do especially well by the organ pedals, and will give subwoofer owners reason to smile.

So what can I really say? The Dutoit has held off all challengers for more than a decade now. To mention just a few of the major contenders, the EMI Previn has that slight touch of distortion that I was never able to completely listen around either on LP or CD (but others rave about--to each his or her own, I guess), the Telarc Previn is tremendous in terms of sound quality but the performance is a bit bland, the DGG Levin/Chicago reading had its exciting moments but was a bit too sloppy overall, and the DGG Gardiner just sounded too bright to these ears.

The Slatkin is the first recording/performance combination to equal the Dutoit overall in my experience. I very slightly prefer the sound of the Slatkin, but I also very slightly prefer the vocal sonority of the women's choir on the Dutoit in the last movement to the children's choir on the Slatkin.

Overall, then, I have a slight preference for the Dutoit in terms of performance, and a very slight preference for the Slatkin in terms of sound quality, but hasten to point out that both are very, very good in both respects. That the Slatkin recording contains an extra selection, Arcana, does not enter into the calculation--it is a piece that you might want to listen to every once in a while, but I'm confident that most purchasers of this disk will generally skip right over it and go straight off into space.

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.

I have heard numerous versions of this great classical work, but I always come back to this one. Dutoit's interpretation is perfect. The balance between all the sections of the orchestra is superb and the recording quality is first rate. Very highly recommended!

Like many of the reviewers, I agree that this is an essential recording of The Planets and if you are going to have only one, get this one and you're all set. The reading truly is "celestial" as another reviewer stated. The balance, phrasing and emotional playing make this a complete performance. There is another recording which is not as complete but has some startling sections and that's the James Levine/Chicago Symphony release on DG. There's no arguing CSO has the best brass ensemble in the world and listening to Saturn will frighten you.
Holst: The Planets

Just a note about the sonics. Even though this is an early CD release, it's remarkably warm and was made years prior to the volume wars in today's mastering. I'm sure this will be remastered at some point but hold onto this one until you hear it.

I'm not a criticist and this is my first review, sorry if my English is no perfect, it's not my main language.
I've hear several recordings of the planets :

This one (almost perfect)
Adrian Boult recording (not my favourite)
Karajan (Ack!)
And some others (Mehta,Previn,Levine..)

I absolutely love this recording.

Mars feels just right,Venus is beautiful (one of the passages i use to rate the planets is the solo violins of Venus,so delicate on this version..), Mercury and Neptune(i always thisnk i'm in a spaceship when i hear Neptune, and with this recording i'm there) are fantastic.

I still think that there is a best Jupiter out there : Sir Neville Marriner with the Royal Concertgebow Orchestra (hear it, really, its perfect, it's the one with Pomp and Circumstance Marches 1 and 4 on the CD)

Overall this is the best recording of the Planets, and if i had to have only one it will be this one.

Thanks for your attention.

A marvellous rendition of the Planets.
I`ve always enjoyed other versions, notably William Steinberg`s Boston(DG) and Levine`s Chicago (DG). But Dutoit and the Montreal orchestra put together a perfect package of raw power (Mars), subtlety (Mercury), and the sublime (everything else!)
Super sound, albeit very early digital.

I was fortunate enough to acquire this disc during it's 1987 release with a Voyager photo of Saturn on the cover of the liner. It's nice to see it restored in the 2007 release. Although taken by the 'kewl' graphic, I was even more spellbound with the reading by these Canadians and Dutoit. It is by any estimation one of the great "space" music recordings, thanks to the superb engineering as well. From the terrifying 'Mars' and grand and grotesque 'Uranus', to the flighty 'Mercury' and ethereal 'Neptune', I have yet to hear an orchestra, like Montreal's, evoke that special 'space' sound that defines Holst's tonalities. Dutoit's 'Saturn' is an unbelieveable traversal of rhythm, shape and mood. To make a long review short, only Mehta's reading from the 70's with the LA Philharmonic comes close, but while you're at it, just go for this. It IS the best. Although Holst was a mystic, this interpretation seems to be more on the level of astronomy than astrology.
This would be an exciting addition to anyone's CD collection

This is one of the best recordings of Holst's famous masterpiece, "The Planets" I have ever heard.The instrumental color that Holst orchestrated really comes through on this performance.The Montreal Symphony plays brilliantly for Dutoit. On the cd, the organ comes through a little too heavily on "Saturn" and "Uranus". It evens sounds like an electric organ. It's too bad they didn't make use of the huge organ in Notre Dame basilica.

The Dutoit/Decca partnership produced some of the best-engineered and stunningly performed recordings of the standard classical repertoire. This recording of 'The Planets' stands out for its precision, its beauty of orchestral sound, and its sheer celestial sparkle. Dutoit captures the ferocity of "Mars", the gentle grandeur of "Venus", and especially the profound wisdom of "Saturn." This is an essential recording of "Planets" and one of Dutoit's finest achievements as a conductor.

Although I have heard numerous performances of the Planets over the years, and even owned a few, this is the best recording I have heard. Dutoit and the Orchestre symphonique de Montreal offer sounds I had never heard before in this work (e.g., the organ), in a fine overall interpretation. The dynamic and emotional range that the score requires is fully realized. And Mars is absolutely stunning.