[Doc Sarvis]

What are opinions here?

I have tried several, and find the KARAJAN/BPO to be my favorite. I usually go with older recordings, but there's something about this one. It's as if Karajan understood that these pieces were written about celestial bodies in space; there's a sort of "reeling" sound to these recordings that suggests (at least in my mind) planets in motion. It's difficult to describe...

I've also tried the DUTOIT/MONTREAL (I found it too digital-sounding), and the BOULT/LONDON (the last one from the 70's) - a good recording, but with what sounds like a blatant missed entry at the climax of "Mars" that ruined the entire disc for me.

Other thoughts?

 

[Bill Ward]

Have you seen

this thread?

BW

 

[DarkAngel]

Ahhhh....one can never have too many versions of The Planets, what a great work and the Jupiter movement is one of the great moments in all of classical music!

Not sure If my taste will help you, not a big fan of Karajan or Boult for Planets, both a bit too relaxed and overly polished for my tastes.....although I still have the Boult/EMI GROTC don't listen much to it.

Here is my current active Holst "Planets" collection:
Dutoit/London (safe bet overall, rich full modern sound)
Steinberg/DG Originals (incl Strauss "zarathrustra" but very bright recording)
Judd/Denon (Mars is as menacing and sinister as any recorded)
Gardiner/DG (one of the best overall)
Jones/Naxos (fully competes with full price versions)
Gibson/Chandos (very balanced overall)
Solti/London (LPO version, prominent brass, incl Elgar "pomp & circumstance" marches)
Bernstein/Sony (has all the panache/swagger you expect from Sony era Lenny)

If you put gun to my head and said keep only one..........Bernstein!

 

[jamont]

In addition, there are two very good recordings by Mehta - one with the LA Philharmonic (Decca) and a later one with the NY Philharmonic (Teldec) - both recommended.

 

[DarkAngel]

Interesting to see what coupling (if any) is on a Holst Planets CD, plenty of room for extra material. Some use some obscure Holst work, many use a related work like Elgar marches.

The David Lloyd-Jones/Naxos version has a "pluto" movement 8 added after "neptune" this is only version I have seen with this.

 

[Bill Ward]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkAngel Interesting to see what coupling (if any) is on a Holst Planets CD, plenty of room for extra material. Some use some obscure Holst work, many use a related work like Elgar marches. The David Lloyd-Jones/Naxos version has a "pluto" movement 9 added after "neptune" this is only version I have seen with this. Interesting also to look at huge differences in running times: Steinberg/DG - 45:58 Dutoit/London - 52:52

JayG's review of The Planets mentions a "Pluto" movement by Colin Matthews. I this the same one?

BW

 

[DarkAngel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Ward JayG's review of The Planets mentions a "Pluto" movement by Colin Matthews. I this the same one? BW

Yes that is the one........Pluto had not yet been discovered when Holst composed Planets

Not sure it was wise to attempt to add Pluto, how can anything follow that bizarre Neptune "singing", Ohhhhhh, Ahhhhhhhh, Ohhhhhhhh

They could use the theme music to original Star Trek as Pluto since it also uses "cosmic humming" effect

 

[Bill Ward]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkAngel Yes that is the one........Pluto had not yet been discovered when Holst composed Planets

Not sure it would have mattered. Holst's suite was based on the astrological attributes and not on astronomy, so Pluto wouldn't be featured.

BW

 

[Doc Sarvis]

Picked up the Mehta/L.A. 1971 on Speakers Corner vinyl. WOW! Clearly the best I've heard so far of this piece. I can definitely see the criticism that some of the instruments are unnaturally miked, but the overall effect here is to bring out interesting voices. I don't naturally mind "artificial" if the effect is a good one, unless realistic sound happens to be what I'm searching for.

 

[kane]

Don't forget to check out the version by St. Louis Symphony Orchestra conducted by Walter Susskind.

 

[dirtcheapii]

don't for get the best of the best from nimbus recorded in 80s

 

[bcwang]

anyone listened to the one released by JVC with their XRCD24 technology? I wonder how that one is, looks like it's from the 1971 mehta recording.

 

[kunwar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamont In addition, there are two very good recordings by Mehta - one with the LA Philharmonic (Decca) and a later one with the NY Philharmonic (Teldec) - both recommended.

The LA Philharmonic version can be had as a part of an excellent value for money combo with the Star Wars Suite as well, other notables in that set include Close Encounters and Also Sprach Zarathustra. Truly memorable.
Must hunt down the bernstein version thoug, he was suprememly good

 

[DarkAngel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kunwar The LA Philharmonic version can be had as a part of an excellent value for money combo with the Star Wars Suite as well, other notables in that set include Close Encounters and Also Sprach Zarathustra. Truly memorable. Must hunt down the bernstein version thoug, he was suprememly good

Bernstein is easy to find since it is part of "Bernstein Century" series:

Just picked up used stereo Stokowski/EMI Planets out of curiosity, will check out soon. Coupling is supposed to be definitive version of Schoenberg "Transfigured Night"

I am almost sure I owned the Mehta/Decca Planets but sold it long time ago, can't remember now what I was unhappy about since this was long time ago. Also sold the Karajan both DG/BPO and Decca/VPO, can't compete with versions listed above.

 

[JayG]

I have the Mehta/LA recording packaged in the double decca with the Stars Wars suite and Zarathustra. It's a good performance, but the sound is awful. I don't know whether this particular remaster ruined it or what, because it is nothing like the high praise it gets for having great sound. All the loud climaxes are badly distorted and the whole thing is muddled. Does anyone else have this pressing of it to verify?

My reference since the first time I heard it has always been Dutoit.

-Jay