Transferred from a Westminster 4-track tape, we have a glowing performance of Holst’s astrological suite as performed by one of its strongest acolytes, Sir Adrian Boult (1889-1983). Curiously, Boult teamed up with an ensemble better known for its middle European and German repertory under the direction of the likes of Hermann Scherchen. Sparkling colors and vivid imagery for the Mars and Jupiter sections of the score alternate with misty and serene harmonies from Venus and Saturn, the latter of which achieves smooth, glossy crescendi and a solid pulsation in the bass. The carillon that erupts might owe something to Moussorgsky, while the ensuing glimmer of harp and long cello lines makes one think of Loeffler and Griffes.
Brass and tympani, already in fine fettle in Mars and Jupiter, achieve a high gloss in Uranus, which displays Holst’s innate talents for wind-band scoring, here buttressed by quicksilver string pizzicatti. Stravinsky’s influence–maybe cross-fertilized by Saint-Saens–rings palpably in every bar. Neptune has cast a spell on me over the years; its “Eastern” sensibility reminds me of The Garden of Allah at several points. Harp glissandi and vapor trails from the winds thin out into the gossamer of women’s voices, and there are Marlene Dietrich’s mystified, loving eyes adoring Charles Boyer. Bring your own visual associations and optimum sound system for this one. Vigorous, compelling music-making throughout. [And again, if you have a DVD player where automatic down-sampling from 96K to 48K can be defeated, get the DVD version for more optimum sound vs. the 44.1 CD…Ed.]
— Gary Lemco
Westminster tapes from the fifties and sixties, and the 24/96 DVD
presentation here brings that through in exceptional clarity, and with
very little associated noise. My only quibble – and it’s a minor one –
is that instead of the gentle hiss of analog tape typically in between
tracks of this vintage, we get that horrible full-digital fade to
black, which does make the proceedings seem a little disjointed and a
little less authentic. However, it’s a small price to pay for the
preservation of an important historical document such as this
recording. Highly recommended.
– Tom Gibbs
