Planets / Enigma Variations

Holst (Artist), Elgar (Artist), Boult (Artist), Lpo (Artist), Lso (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 17, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Angel Records
• ASIN: B000002S4Z
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #166,496 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Planets, Op. 32: Mars, Bringer Of War

2. The Planets, Op. 32: Venus, Bringer Of Peace

3. The Planets, Op. 32: Mercury, The Winged Messenger

4. The Planets, Op. 32: Jupiter, 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. Enigma Variations, Op. 36: Theme (Andante)

9. Enigma Variations, Op. 36: C. A. E.

10. Enigma Variations, Op. 36: H. D. S-P.

11. Enigma Variations, Op. 36: R. B. T.

12. Enigma Variations, Op. 36: W. M. B.

13. Enigma Variations, Op. 36: R. P. A.

14. Enigma Variations, Op. 36: Ysobel

15. Enigma Variations, Op. 36: Troyte

16. Enigma Variations, Op. 36: W. N.

17. Enigma Variations, Op. 36: Nimrod

18. Enigma Variations, Op. 36: Intermezzo: Dorabella

19. Enigma Variations, Op. 36: G. R. S.

20. Enigma Variations: B. G. N.

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best recording of the Planets; Enigma is a great piece too, April 28, 2000

By 

davek89 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Planets / Enigma Variations (Audio CD)

I originally purchased this solely because of its reputation as being the best recording of The Planets to date and overlooked the Enigma Variations as a cute tack-on.

After I listened once through and became completely impressed with Boult's style and the orchestra's definitive performace of The Planets, I began to like Enigma. And with each passing listen to Enigma, I began to like it even more. It certainly is a different type of composition than the Planets; most tracks are minute-long shorties when compared to the epic-length of The Planets. W.M.B. and Ysobel are extremely energetic pieces with the Elgar theme interwoven between them.

Highlight tracks of The Planets in personal preference are:

1. Mars (of course) 2. Jupiter (the "slow" performance is unique) 3. Uranus (stop laughing)

All in all, the combination of Boult, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and Enigma make a great CD. Don't pass off Enigma as filler; listen to it objectively and I'm sure you will like it.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent recording of both works, January 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Planets / Enigma Variations (Audio CD)

Boult's performances of both the Holst and the Elgar are excellent and stand amongst the most satisfying readings of two of the most popular orchestral showpieces to come from Britain. The Planets is wonderfully played throughout, especially in the ending of Mars, and the London Philharmonic's brass makes Jupiter into an incredible listening experiences. The Enigma Variations is beautifully performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, and Boult's reading is definitive, with an incredibly moving account of Nimrod as its center piece. With two such excellent readings on one CD, I highly recommend this for anyone interested in either work.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars authentic versions of two English classics, January 10, 2001

By 

Mr. Ian A. Macfarlane "almac1975" (Fife, Scotland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Planets / Enigma Variations (Audio CD)

In Britain, Boult more than any other is the conductor associated with English music. He conducted the first (private) performance of 'The Planets' way back around 1918 and recorded it 5 times, I think. This is the equal best version, with his BBC Symphony version of 1944, and of course this one has sound of incomparably better quality than the old one. Both here and in 'Enigma' the music comes across, not just as clever, or original, or lively or colourful, but great. Partly, in 'Enigma' at least, that is because Boult sees the thing whole, not just a series of short pieces, and there is a very real sense of structure and forward movement. But every movement is characterised and satisfying within the whole. In the Holst, 'Mars' is massive, bestial and frightening, 'Venus' serene and incredibly beautiful (lovely orchestral phrasing here), 'Jupiter' exultant and noble, and so on. The heart of 'Enigma' is 'Nimrod', given a very powerful and moving performance because Boult allows the strings, especially the lower ones, to build the intesity in a way that really tells, so that the big brass don't create the climax, they crown what is already almost happening. In a much recorded work (I have 23 versions), very few conductors do this. Anyway, here are two scores in which the conductor's sixty year and more involvement really tells. They are profoundly satisfying, and the sound is very good.