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Track Listings
| 1. Holst Orchestral Works, Volume 2 |
| 2. The Planets, Op. 32 / Japanese Suite, Op. 33 |
| 3. Beni Mora, Op. 29 No. 1 |
Product Description
Review
...It shows ,if nothing else,that Holst's originality continues to invite new ideas. --IRR,Feb'11
English music,some of it very familiar,performed by English musicians-you would expect quality.But the playing in Beni Mora,especially,is better even than that,and does something special with some strikingly original music. ***** --Classic fm Magazine,Apr'11
English music,some of it very familiar,performed by English musicians-you would expect quality.But the playing in Beni Mora,especially,is better even than that,and does something special with some strikingly original music. ***** --Classic fm Magazine,Apr'11
English music,some of it very familiar,performed by English musicians-you would expect quality.But the playing in Beni Mora,especially,is better even than that,and does something special with some strikingly original music. ***** --Classic fm Magazine,Apr'11
English music,some of it very familiar,performed by English musicians-you would expect quality.But the playing in Beni Mora,especially,is better even than that,and does something special with some strikingly original music. ***** --Classic fm Magazine,Apr'11
CD Description
This is a Hybrid SACD which will play on both SACD and CD.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Little needs to be added to Amazon's CD description of the music recorded here; it is a great shame that Richard Hickox's sad demise prevented him from conducting a new recording of Holst's best known work, The Planets, but Volume 1 on Chandos (also Elgar's symphonies - more fine SACD recordings) are a fitting testimonial to his talent.
Sir Andrew Davis has no need of gimmicks but obtains a well-played, 'middle of the road' interpretation of these works. I didn't find any significant new insights, but neither did I find anything to complain about.
The Planets - a 'suite for large orchestra' - is a challenge for the recording engineer, utilising a range of percussion (all clearly recorded) and an organ which is not only used for bass underpinning but has a startling glissando in Uranus. Chandos have opted for a natural-sounding recording which sets the orchestra in a good acoustic environment with a realistic frequency and dynamic range. In this case there is a noticeable distancing which creates somewhat more blurring than in a multi-miked recording, but is arguably a more accurate representation of a live concert hall sound. Rear speakers add reverberation which reinforces the impression of naturalness.
In common with Gardiner's SACD on DG, I find that I need more amplification than usual to produce the 'airy' result that I enjoy; climaxes here are then gloriously unrestrained. As a matter of personal taste I prefer Davis's faster tempo in Mars, but Gardiner's organ glissando is more impressive. I find much to enjoy in both discs.
Sir Andrew Davis has no need of gimmicks but obtains a well-played, 'middle of the road' interpretation of these works. I didn't find any significant new insights, but neither did I find anything to complain about.
The Planets - a 'suite for large orchestra' - is a challenge for the recording engineer, utilising a range of percussion (all clearly recorded) and an organ which is not only used for bass underpinning but has a startling glissando in Uranus. Chandos have opted for a natural-sounding recording which sets the orchestra in a good acoustic environment with a realistic frequency and dynamic range. In this case there is a noticeable distancing which creates somewhat more blurring than in a multi-miked recording, but is arguably a more accurate representation of a live concert hall sound. Rear speakers add reverberation which reinforces the impression of naturalness.
In common with Gardiner's SACD on DG, I find that I need more amplification than usual to produce the 'airy' result that I enjoy; climaxes here are then gloriously unrestrained. As a matter of personal taste I prefer Davis's faster tempo in Mars, but Gardiner's organ glissando is more impressive. I find much to enjoy in both discs.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The SACD recording of the Planets we have been waiting for. I won't be parting with my beloved MoFi of the Susskind recording, but this one, too, is extraordinary - and at a tenth the price of that rarity.
One thing I should say immediately. This is one of those recordings that HAS to be played damn loud. I raised my preamp volume by 6 dB (OK, two notches, guys...). then the sound snapped into place - and so did the performance.
You are then rewarded by palpably state-of-the-art DSD sound, smooth, airy, transparent, timbrally accurate and with fearsome dynamic range. This Chandos is not like the older, more-distanced breed that you expect from this label; but it definitely rocks. I really can't find much to criticise about the sound - unusual for me.
On first hearing, I thought the performance was good but not great - four stars. When I upped the volume, however, the extra all-round impact made it much more like 4.5. For including fine readings of the neglected Beni-Mora and Japanese suites, however, I am inclined to go the whole hog and plump for five stars, too.
Outstanding AND cheap. What more do you want?
One thing I should say immediately. This is one of those recordings that HAS to be played damn loud. I raised my preamp volume by 6 dB (OK, two notches, guys...). then the sound snapped into place - and so did the performance.
You are then rewarded by palpably state-of-the-art DSD sound, smooth, airy, transparent, timbrally accurate and with fearsome dynamic range. This Chandos is not like the older, more-distanced breed that you expect from this label; but it definitely rocks. I really can't find much to criticise about the sound - unusual for me.
On first hearing, I thought the performance was good but not great - four stars. When I upped the volume, however, the extra all-round impact made it much more like 4.5. For including fine readings of the neglected Beni-Mora and Japanese suites, however, I am inclined to go the whole hog and plump for five stars, too.
Outstanding AND cheap. What more do you want?
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Well, my review is going to add to a very mixed response to this SACD. Frankly I think Chandos would be wise to withdraw this SACD and go back to the mix ... which in its current form is truly grim.
The problem is, at least with the 5.1 layer, that the orchestra is simply swamped by ambience. There is so mcuh reverberation of the reverberation that I can only assume microphones were poorly positioned. The outcome is a peculiar recording wherein you feel like you're listening against the music in order to hear ... the music.
Add to this the extremely dynamic character of the pieces on offer - where quiet is really quiet and loud is extremely LOUD - and you end up with a disc that has to be played at very high volume with remote in hand, pre-empting the peaks.
As for the music, here The Planets isn't presented in a particularly energetic way, but it's certainly an engaging performance that, I think, focuses upon the psychodrama - the internal drama - rather than the obvious epic character. The other two pieces have been, I think, unfairly criticised for not being somehow authentically oriental. That's a crazy judgment - if you're going to take that view you'll have to start with The Mikado and be ready to crucify Scheherazade ... such works are inevitably, in part, products of their age.
The problem is, at least with the 5.1 layer, that the orchestra is simply swamped by ambience. There is so mcuh reverberation of the reverberation that I can only assume microphones were poorly positioned. The outcome is a peculiar recording wherein you feel like you're listening against the music in order to hear ... the music.
Add to this the extremely dynamic character of the pieces on offer - where quiet is really quiet and loud is extremely LOUD - and you end up with a disc that has to be played at very high volume with remote in hand, pre-empting the peaks.
As for the music, here The Planets isn't presented in a particularly energetic way, but it's certainly an engaging performance that, I think, focuses upon the psychodrama - the internal drama - rather than the obvious epic character. The other two pieces have been, I think, unfairly criticised for not being somehow authentically oriental. That's a crazy judgment - if you're going to take that view you'll have to start with The Mikado and be ready to crucify Scheherazade ... such works are inevitably, in part, products of their age.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Holst
Amazingly good recording, and so good to hear other pieces by Holst too - and they are really lovely.
SA-CD sound is top notch - especially in surround sound. Read more
SA-CD sound is top notch - especially in surround sound. Read more
Published 10 months ago by J. A. Purches
A Worthy Holst Package.
I didn't get Holst Orchestral Works One [Chandos again] which was by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and conducted by the late Richard Hickox. Read more
Published 15 months ago by And/Burro
An unbelievable unbalanced and overpowering recording and underpowered...
Chandos must be ashamed presenting this disc! They put the SACD format to disgrace and present a kind of `recording' which sounds like an elephant shouting at a mouse. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Charles Voogd
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