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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
If ever there was a one hit wonder of the Classical World it is Gustav Holst. Don't miss out on his other music, especially when it is as well played and such a bargain as here.
David Lloyd Jones and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra give us a varied selection of the composers shorter orchestral works. They appear to have a natural affinity for the composer's sound world which manages to be both rich and restrained at the same time.
Holst went on trips with Vaughan Williams collecting folk tunes and his Somerset Rhapsody makesan interesting comparison with Vaughan Williams folk influenced works.
Ben Mora mixes full blooded late nineteenth century romanticism with more modern ideas.It and the bold brassy Fugal Overture are the nearest things here to The Planets Suite.
The Invocation for Cello and Orchestral is given a wonderfully searching rendition by Tim Hugh on the Cello. It is grounded in the late romantics but also seems to reach forward in time sounding not so far from Gorecki or John Tavener's The Protecting Veil.
A sense of Holst as an early 'Holy Minimalist' composer is even stronger in Edgon Heath as a simple musical figure is slowly developed, gradually appearing from the mists to achieve a beautiful resolution
I was initially disappointed to find that Hammersmith appearsin its original wind instrument version rather than the full orchestral one. But only until I heard it. Rarely has a wind band produced such a rich sound. This evocation of London near the River Thames calls to be heard next to Vaughan Williams' London Symphony.
Well, with something for lovers of the Late Romantics, Vaughan Williams,and the likes of Gorecki and John Tavener this is a disc that deserves wide attention. In fact it should appeal to anyone who enjoys the melodic side of twentieth century classical music. Don't let Holst be a one hit wonder any longer.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is a gorgeous recording and one of Naxos' amazing bargains - excelling quality for hardly any money. The "Somerset Rhapsody" is tremendously evocative - full of rousing melodies and brilliantly orchestrated, superbly performed too. The real revelation for me, though, is the "Invocation for Cello and Orchestra", which I would thoroughly recommend to anyone - an absolute gem of a piece - I can't understand how I had never heard it before as it is truly beautiful. The cello performance by Tim Hugh is perfect - very moving. The orchestra reaches inspiring heights too. You should buy this - you can't go wrong!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I suppose it took the combination of the superlative press reviews of this excellent Naxos collection, and my delight on listening to this beautiful recording, reinforced by the recent excellent BBC4 film on Holst, for me to realise how relatively unsung he is, given the breadth and range of his compositional career. The music here is both conventionally pastoral and lyrical, yet shot through with a deeper unease which anticipates both Britten, and the use of an insistent musical pulse, which became reflected in the minimalism of Glass, Adams and Reich. Needless to say, this originality was rarely appreciated by the audiences of the time.
My fellow reviewers have done a masterful job in exploring the strengths and qualities of the pieces here, so I'd like to stress the quality of the outstanding performance by the Scottish National Orchestra under the baton of David Lloyd-Jones, drawing some scintillating playing from his musicians. The album is full of power and delicacy, strings and brass beautifully balanced, with a lovely warm and clear recording at the Henry Wood Hall in Glasgow. Tim Hugh's bow work in the Invocation for Cello and Orchestra is a gossamer wonder, and has echoes of Elgar. Following the pastoral hues of Somerset Rhapsody, Beni Mora has both the exotic colours and swirling sensuousness of dance movements, allied to Holst's ground-breaking use of a repeated melodic pulse to beguile and entrance, while the relative starkness of Egdon Heath (written for Thomas Hardy, who Holst much admired, who died before its first performance), provides a suitable foil. As you might expect, Hammersmith is a bustling, lively piece. There's not a weak piece here, and the whole collection is sparklingly presented.
A similar level of performance by this conductor and orchestra can also be found when they tackle Holst's 'signature work' Holst: The Planets & The Mystic Trumpeter Op.18 To end where I began: both Gramophone and the Penguin Guide (***) rate this as a 'splendid recording', while I would encourage admirers of Holst to see the excellent BBC4 film without delay, as it really is that good!
My fellow reviewers have done a masterful job in exploring the strengths and qualities of the pieces here, so I'd like to stress the quality of the outstanding performance by the Scottish National Orchestra under the baton of David Lloyd-Jones, drawing some scintillating playing from his musicians. The album is full of power and delicacy, strings and brass beautifully balanced, with a lovely warm and clear recording at the Henry Wood Hall in Glasgow. Tim Hugh's bow work in the Invocation for Cello and Orchestra is a gossamer wonder, and has echoes of Elgar. Following the pastoral hues of Somerset Rhapsody, Beni Mora has both the exotic colours and swirling sensuousness of dance movements, allied to Holst's ground-breaking use of a repeated melodic pulse to beguile and entrance, while the relative starkness of Egdon Heath (written for Thomas Hardy, who Holst much admired, who died before its first performance), provides a suitable foil. As you might expect, Hammersmith is a bustling, lively piece. There's not a weak piece here, and the whole collection is sparklingly presented.
A similar level of performance by this conductor and orchestra can also be found when they tackle Holst's 'signature work' Holst: The Planets & The Mystic Trumpeter Op.18 To end where I began: both Gramophone and the Penguin Guide (***) rate this as a 'splendid recording', while I would encourage admirers of Holst to see the excellent BBC4 film without delay, as it really is that good!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Hols - Orchestral Works
I found the recording up to expectations except for one thing, the actual volume.
It's almost inaudible when played from track one, which means if it's played in shuffle mode... Read more
It's almost inaudible when played from track one, which means if it's played in shuffle mode... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mick K
Pleasurable Holst from planet Earth
Of course there's more to Holst than The Planets; much more in fact, but still plenty of forgettable guff as well. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Philoctetes
Great CD
Really good to find a selection of Holst's works other than
The Planets and St Paul's Suite, great though they are. Read more
The Planets and St Paul's Suite, great though they are. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Hayseed
Not Just A One Trick Pony!!
Enchanting CD that proves there's more to Holst than just the magnum opus of The Planets Suite!
Excellent Naxos presentation, performed to perfection (Royal Scottish National... Read more
Excellent Naxos presentation, performed to perfection (Royal Scottish National... Read more
Published on 29 April 2009 by Adam Jackson
Don't think about it - just buy it
..honestly you just can't go wrong at the price.
Demo quality sound and great music.
A must if you have got The Planets and are looking further into the music of... Read more
Demo quality sound and great music.
A must if you have got The Planets and are looking further into the music of... Read more
Published on 17 Aug 2008 by Kamakiriad
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