Planets / Egdon Heath / Perfect Fool Ballet Music

Holst (Artist), Boult (Artist), Previn (Artist), Npo (Artist), Lso (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 12, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Angel Records
• ASIN: B00000GCAW
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #347,934 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

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

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Planets out there, January 2, 2001

By 

Owen Hartnett (Bloomington, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Planets / Egdon Heath / Perfect Fool Ballet Music (Audio CD)

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!

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Fool & Egdon Heath Get 5 Stars--Planets Get Only 3, April 26, 2000

By 

Ed Luhrs (Long Island, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Planets / Egdon Heath / Perfect Fool Ballet Music (Audio CD)

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.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Should never have been released to the public, July 21, 2010

By 

Brian F Hudon - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Planets / Egdon Heath / Perfect Fool Ballet Music (Audio CD)

From the opening bars, this recording of the Planets was a disappointment. The brass playing is sub-par in both Mars and Uranus. That the trumpets add a misplayed note to one of the more signifigant passages early in Mars and this is just not acceptable. I am surprised that EMI ever allowed such a recording to be released to the public. Such playing is not even worthy of budget releases and there are good number of budget releases that are better than this. There are better Boult recordings of The Planets and I think had this disc not had Boult's name on it, it probably would never again have seen the light of day.