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Holst: The Planets |  | Creators: Gustav Holst, Charles Dutoit, Montréal Symphony Orchestra
Label: Decca
Category: Music
List Price: $11.98
Buy New: $10.99
as of 7/29/2010 14:52 CDT details
You Save: $0.99 (8%)
Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  reviews
Sales Rank: 2652
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 028941755322
EAN: 0028941755322
ASIN: B0000041S7
Release Date: July 10, 2007
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
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| Tracks:
| • | Mars, the Bringer Of War | | • | Venus, the Bringer Of Peace | | • | Mercury, the Winged Messenger | | • | Jupiter, the Bringer Of Jollity | | • | Saturn, the Bringer Of Old Age | | • | Uranus, The Magician | | • | Neptune, the Mystic |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Charles Dutoit often sounds better on disc than he does live. The reason for this is simple: he loves to play to the audience, and the result is all kinds of wild gesticulating that the orchestra knows perfectly well to ignore. Sometimes they ignore him completely, to the peril of the performance at hand. In the studio, however, there is no audience and the conductor is free to focus on the music. Dutoit has a real affection for The Planets and his performance is vital, insightful, and recorded in resplendent digital sound. The Montreal Symphony has a particularly powerful trombone section, which adds just that extra drop of energy to "Mars,"Jupiter," and "Saturn." A fine disc. --David Hurwitz
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| Customer Reviews:
Colorful Portrayal of the Planets June 1, 2010
Michael J. Cook (Skokie, IL)
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.
One of 2 (may be 3) definitive version of The Planets March 13, 2010
H. Pang (New York City, NY)
This relatively early digital recording of The Planets was made during the best of time when Dutoit was the music director of OSM. I agree with one of the former reviewer's that the balance of the orchestra is not natural, that you ain't going to hear the same kind of sound in a concert hall. It seems to me that certain passages are highlighted (not necessary exaggerated, however) to make the music more dramatic. IMHO Decca engineers did make this subtle yet significant "tweaking" with great taste and care, and it never gets to the point of distraction.
The interpretation is very balanced, every note is played just right, and really nothing to pick on OSM's superb effort. The Decca sound IMHO tends to be bright and assertive (one may call it aggressive), but it's among the most dynamic you could get (other than the Telarc label recordings). It fits this recording perfectly. If you like syrupy Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker sound, look elsewhere.
If you love this piece, you should also get the Slatkin's recording too. That's another definitive recording version out there.
Some people like the James Levine version but he's never my cup of tea. His recording with CSO is also outstanding but IMHO he sounded more like a traffic cop, and do not have the depth and the structural perspectives of Dutoit's.
Incredible! March 1, 2010
R. Germinario (Toronto, Ontario)
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.
One of the two essential recordings February 19, 2010
Thomas Becker (San Jose, CA United States)
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.
An exceptional offering! February 12, 2010
Timothy Mikolay (Pittsburgh, PA)
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
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