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Holst: The Planets / Elgar: Enigma Variations
 
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Holst: The Planets / Elgar: Enigma Variations

~ London Philharmonic (Conductor), Sir Adrian Boult (Orchestra), London Symphony Orchestra (Artist)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Orchestra: Sir Adrian Boult
  • Conductor: London Philharmonic
  • Audio CD (11 Mar 2002)
  • SPARS Code: A-D
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Label: EMI Classics
  • ASIN: B00005YUBA
  • Other Editions: MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 860 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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    #36 in  Music > Classical Instrumental

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Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s

Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or view the MP3 Album.

Samples
Song TitleArtist Time Price
Listen  1. Variations on an Original Theme 'Enigma' Op. 36 (2002 Digital Remaster): Theme (Andante)London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult 1:22£0.69
Listen  2. Variations on an Original Theme 'Enigma' Op. 36 (2002 Digital Remaster): I. C.A.E. (the composer's wife) (L'istesso tempo)London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult 1:52£0.69
Listen  3. Variations on an Original Theme 'Enigma' Op. 36 (2002 Digital Remaster): II. H.D.S.-P. ( Hew David Steuart-Powell) (Allegro)London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult0:46£0.69
Listen  4. Variations on an Original Theme 'Enigma' Op. 36 (2002 Digital Remaster): III. R.B.T. (Richard Baxter Townshend) (Allegretto)London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult 1:27£0.69
Listen  5. Variations on an Original Theme 'Enigma' Op. 36 (2002 Digital Remaster): IV. W.M.B. (William Meath Baker) (Allegro di molto)London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult0:28£0.69
Listen  6. Variations on an Original Theme 'Enigma' Op. 36 (2002 Digital Remaster): V. R.P.A. (Richard Penrose Arnold) (Presto)London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult 1:54£0.69
Listen  7. Variations on an Original Theme 'Enigma' Op. 36 (2002 Digital Remaster): VI. Ysobel (Isabel Fitton) (Andantino)London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult 1:11£0.69
Listen  8. Variations on an Original Theme 'Enigma' Op. 36 (2002 Digital Remaster): VII. Troyte (Troyte Griffith) (Presto)London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult0:56£0.69
Listen  9. Variations On An Original Theme 'Enigma' Op. 36 (2002 Digital Remaster): VIII. W.N. (Winifred Norbury) (Allegretto)London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult 1:43£0.69
Listen10. Variations on an Original Theme 'Enigma' Op. 36 (2002 Digital Remaster): IX. Nimrod (A. J. Jaeger) (Moderato)London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult 3:53£0.69
Listen11. Variations on an Original Theme 'Enigma' Op. 36 (2002 Digital Remaster): X. Intermezzo: Dorabella (Dora Penny) (Allegretto)London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult 2:52£0.69
Listen12. Variations on an Original Theme 'Enigma' Op. 36 (2002 Digital Remaster): XI. G.R.S. (George Robertson Sinclair) (Allegro di molto)London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult0:58£0.69
Listen13. Variations on an Original Theme 'Enigma' Op. 36 (2002 Digital Remaster): XII. B.G.N. (Basil G. Nevinson) (Andante)London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult 2:20£0.69
Listen14. Variations On An Original Theme 'Enigma' Op. 36 (2002 Digital Remaster): XIII. Romanza: * * * [Lady Mary Lygon] (Moderato)London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult 2:33£0.69
Listen15. Variations on an Original Theme 'Enigma' Op. 36 (2002 Digital Remaster): XIV. Finale: E.D.U. (the composer) (Allegro)London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult 5:46£0.69
Listen16. The Planets, Op. 32 (2002 Digital Remaster): Mars, the Bringer of War (Allegro)London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult 8:02£1.89
Listen17. The Planets, Op. 32 (2002 Digital Remaster): Venus, the Bringer of Peace (Adagio)London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult 7:26£1.89
Listen18. The Planets, Op. 32 (2002 Digital Remaster): Mercury, the Winged Messenger (Vivace)London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult 3:48£0.69
Listen19. The Planets, Op. 32 (2002 Digital Remaster): Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity (Allegro giouoso)London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult 7:59£1.89
Listen20. The Planets, Op. 32 (2002 Digital Remaster): Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age (Adagio)London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult 8:22£1.89
Listen21. The Planets, Op. 32 (2002 Digital Remaster): Uranus, the Magician (Allegro)London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult 6:26£0.69
Listen22. The Planets, Op. 32 (2002 Digital Remaster): Neptune, the Mystic (Andante)London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Adrian Boult/Geoffrey Mitchell Choir 6:22£0.69

On this CD:
  1. Variations on an Original Theme, 'Enigma'
    Composed by Sir Edward Elgar
    Conducted by Adrian Boult

  2. (The) Planets
    Composed by Gustav Holst
    Conducted by Adrian Boult

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Customer Reviews

11 Reviews
5 star:
 (10)
4 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
75 of 75 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive recording of Holst's master work, 28 Jul 2003
Boult was the first to conduct Holst's planet suite at the tender age of 29. After hearing this, much later, reading of the suite (recorded in 1978) it's easy to see why Holst had such faith in the young conductor’s ability to realise his score.

The LPO are on fine form here, and Boult’s orchestral discipline is second to none.
The whole recording has been remastered at Abbey Road studios. While sceptical of remasters being overly processed, this is definitely not the case here. The sound quality is superb, displaying depth, resonance, detail and warmth. The instruments are beautifully imaged and, in particular, the dissonance of the trumpet is reproduced perfectly.

While some feel that the tempi of this reading is too plodding (Mars is particularly slow) or too heavy (for a lighter interpretation, Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra are a good bet), I feel both are perfect and really emphasise the drama of the pieces.
In particular, the minimal use of thematic content (sometimes just one or two notes/chords) during Jupiter benefits from Boult’s pace, helping to create the sense of the ethereal that no composer but Holst seems to have mastered.

As a bonus, the CD also features an excellent reading of Elgars’s Enigma Variations. Together with the Hoslt recording, these performances display the deep understanding he had of the music and the "Englishness" of his friend’s works.

If you don’t already own the Planet Suite, I would highly recommend this excellent CD and will guarantee your enjoyment of it.

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35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars simply the best, 8 Jan 2006
By Mr. Ian A. Macfarlane "almac1975" (Fife, Scotland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
I don't think there is a better CD of English classics than this one. Rob Cowan chose Boult's 'Enigma' as the best available version the last time the work was reviewed on Radio 3's CD Review. It is a performance that manages to balance all the different moods and characters of the musical pictures of Elgar's 'friends pictured within' quite beautifully, and the sound is excellent 1970s analogue. Boult was the first man to conduct 'The Planets' and recorded it five times, and this is probably the best performance and certainly the best recording.
From start to finish it is a joy. I find it amazing that a man who was - what? - well on in his 80s when he made this could produce an interpretation of such energy and poetry, but so it is. An unmissable CD.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars As Holst intended?, 19 Jul 2007
By M. Maxwell (Runcorn, Cheshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This version of The Planets has replaced my recent LSO version.
Why? Well, the balance between the contributing elements is the best i've heard so far: The bass is thunderous analogue and the high woodwind/strings are like crystal in equal measure. This is a superb achievement and exceptionally important for, 'large orchestra' where Dynamics become a recording engineer's delight or problem depending on how good they are. And these people are the best: Abbey road have done a fantastic job on the remastering of a late 70's classic, although there is one thing they could never tackle: Is this as Holst intended?

Bolt was a friend of Holst and was given the opportunity to first conduct the piece; Bolt read and heard the original 'two piano' score and must have got the full S.P. from Holst? If this is so, then what we have here is close to the real deal?
OK, Bolt had five cracks at this recording before producing this last version, so we may have the advantage of decades of Bolt's polishing and highlighting the manifold textures one may hear in this genius of a masterpiece. It certainly sounds like it.

I was surprised to hear a faster 'Venus' than i think i have ever heard before, and 'Jupiter' is a bit nippy also. But i was also surprised at how quickly i accomodated these unexpected nuances and began to listen to the clarity of what was going on instead. I don't think i have ever before been able to hold so many themes and harmonies in one passing than i have experienced with this recording of The Planets because so much usualy becomes burried in the total wash. Not so here: the richness and variety of the score is available at all sonic levels.

Majestic stuff.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

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