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Epicurus.com - Holst: The Planets
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List Price: $16.98
Our Price: $13.99
Your Save: $ 2.99 ( 18% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0028942973022
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Deutsche Grammophon
Release Date: 1991-05-10
Studio: Deutsche Grammophon
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Holst should be a household name
Comment: Holst inspired many of the blockbuster movie music scores we know and love. I attend the CSO whenever they play his music, and Holst's Planets are my favorite. This CD is a must have for your classical music collection.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Close, but no cigar!
Comment: I'm a big fan of the Chicago Symphony. They've made some excellent recordings with Levine, but this isn't one of them. There are way too many mistakes, including a glaring error in "Mars" where the trumpets are completely apart from the snare drum in the quiet middle section of the movement. Legendary CSO principal trumpet Bud Herseth sounds like he's having a bad day, and time after time I'm lefting wondering why they didn't try another take. I'll stick to the Montreal Symphony Orchestra recording with Dutoit conducting.
Customer Rating:
Summary: BEST PLANETS EVER!
Comment: WOW! With the most impassioned playing of any Planets I've ever heard, or most any other orchestral playing for that matter, along with a very good recording makes this is a total winner! When comparing this recording to my twice as expensive Mehta & the L.A. Philharmonic XRCD surprisingly this recording knocks the socks off the XRCD. Not only is this recording better but also the Chicago Symphony Orchestra playing is so much more exciting than the otherwise sleepy-time playing by the L.A. Philharmonic. I've been listening to various recordings of The Planets for the past 38 years and this one by far takes the cake as the ultimate Planets. I've even used The Planets in my Master's Thesis in Music Therapy so I'm very familiar with it. This is a must have for anyone wanting the definitive recording of The Planets. DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON PLEASE TAKE NOTE-THIS IS THE RECORDING TO REISSUE ON SACD OF THE PLANETS!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent performance - minor complaint
Comment: The Planets suite is quite a thing of beauty. This recording made by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of James Levine, is quite good. The powerful, brassy sound other reviewers have spoke of is obvious here and it works perfectly. My only gripe is not really a bad thing. The dynamic range on this disc is tremendous. I often am forced to listen to music at levels which won't get me evicted from my apartment. In doing so, I have found that the piano or pianissimo (or pianississimo) passages are inaudible. It still sounds superb; I just have to crank it up and risk losing my hearing when the brass comes in.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Despite myself--and my initial impression--I have to give it to Levine and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Comment: While this interpretation still does not capture every element of the work in what I would consider its hypothetical, ideal performance (my interpretation, as I'm sure it is with most, is an average of all the ways I have heard the suite performed), I must say that this one really grew on me in the initial week I listened to it. At first I didn't think much of it (and I berated myself for caving to the glowing reviews I had read about Levine's interpretation), especially considering I was already very happy with my copy of the Charles Dutoit/Montreal Symphony Orchestra interpretation. I was expecting to be blown away upon my initial trial of the Levine recording and was disappointed in the extreme, especially since I put forward a pretty penny for my copy.
But, like I said, it really grew on me. For the record, I currently own three interpretations of this suite:
Charles Dutoit/Montreal Symphony Orchestra
James Levine/Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Andre Previn/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Incidentally, all are DDD. I didn't choose them for that reason; things just happened that way. Nevertheless, of the three, Levine's is the clear winner sonically. The production is vibrant and inspiring, and each section sounds natural and pleasant. And, when the brass isn't drowning out everything else, the sections all blend well.
My first impression of the Levine interpretation was a criticism I still hold (and which I hinted to above): The brass is much too loud. Yes, of course, it's the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and indeed the tone and power of its brass section blows away anything else I have heard, but 'The Planets' the way I have always heard it has functioned best when the brass and strings have at least some vestage of balance. In Levine's recording no such balance exists: The entire suite is a showcase for the brass section. Now this works well for the louder sections (especially for "Mars"), but portions such as the middle section of "Jupiter" suffer greatly from this overzealous brass, which exhibits all the subtlety of a pile driver upon the delicate, lilting theme. I wouldn't be so critical here except that the middle section of "Jupiter" ties for what I consider the most beautiful, most haunting section in all classical music (the other contender is the principal melody of the second movement of Dvorak's Ninth Symphony). Somehow Dutoit just got it right in this section, even if he did leave out the tympani from the score (why he did this is beyond me).
But I could quibble on about this sort of thing forever. I am writing this review in regards to those who have heard the suite before and know it well, such that they are searching for an interpretation that suits them. Therefore I will not trifle with describing the movements themselves.
"Mars, The Bringer Of War" - This is by far the best movement in Levine's interpretation. This one just has a raw energy, a massive power that makes both Dutoit's and Previn's versions seem like so much wadded toilet paper. When I think "Mars", I think Levine and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. That marvelous brass section really nails this piece. I do not have the score (I passed on several occasions I had to purchase it), so I can't point to specific passages via measure number (which would be very helpful), but in general the crecendi in this movement are milked to gravitational effect. Whatever source you use to play this track will nearly wrench itself free of its moorings when you crank the volume on this movement. Of all the versions I've heard (the three I've mentioned, plus Tomita's timeless electronic rendering of the score), Levine's is by far the best. It's worth the price of admission alone to have this version of "Mars" in your collection.
"Venus, The Bringer Of Peace" - I was not so impressed with this movement. Levine seems to have difficulty with subtle, cantative sections. This entire movement seems a little rushed to me, especially the violin solo passages. It's also a little sloppy in places. Of the three orchestral versions I have heard, I would have to say Dutoit is the best as far as "Venus" goes.
"Mercury, The Winged Messenger" - I have much less experience with this particular movement in general (it was never one of my favorites until just recently). Nevertheless, I believe Levine's is a competent interpretation. Of the three conductors, I would say that this movement is Previn's moment of shining glory.
"Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity" - My knowledge of this movement makes up for my lack of knowledge regarding the previous one. "Jupiter" is by far my favorite movement in the piece, not simply for the bombastic, dance-like antics; but also for the graceful, uplifting middle theme. I have listened to that particular section of the music perhaps more than any other moment in my classical music collection.
That having been said, I would really like to give Levine the baton for this one. He does most of the piece better than either Dutoit or Previn could ever hope to achieve. However, the middle section really ruins the whole thing. It's not that the overall effect is bad, per se. It's just that I think Levine could have been a great deal more sensitive with this particular part of the score. The ending of this sequence is monumental and perfectly done, but the lead-up is far too brass-heavy and forced-sounding. This portion of the movement is supposed to be lyrical, firm but musical. And it needs to start much more softly. Surprisingly, the main offender at the beginning of this section is not the brass, but the woodwinds, particularly the clarinets. Chicago's clarinets have a rough, jarring timbre, and they destroy the first note of the middle sequence by virtue of their duck-like blast. Once the strings gain their composure, though, the brass starts getting uppity. Once we come to the stray honk from a single trumpet somewhere (a glaring mistake that makes me do a double-take every time I hear it), all hope for capturing the spirit of this movement as I hear it in my head is lost. Even so, when viewed from a different angle, it all adds up to a more forceful presentation of the theme, which is I believe preferable to a timid, lifeless run-through.
Different strokes for different folks, I suppose. You'll notice I didn't take any stars away. I figured that entitles me to be more detailed in my analysis, lest zealous fans of CSO/James Levine point some poisonous arrows in my general direction.
Personal indulgence aside, we'll get on with it.
"Saturn, The Bringer Of Old Age" - Nobody will ever beat Dutoit's interpretation of this piece. Not only is the organ bass at the very end of the latter's version simply devine, "Saturn" is a rare instance in which the Montreal brass are actually LOUDER than Chicago. Of all the times to be timid, the middle section of "Saturn" is not the one. Levine seems unwilling to embrace the score and let the full impact be broadcasted. Though of course his performance is fine, again his prowess insofar as the softer elements leaves something to be desired. Of the three versions I mentioned, I would place Levine's at a very close third behind Previn.
As far as the next two movements, I honestly don't have enough knowledge to where my opinion will mean very much. That could have something to do with the fact that it has been over seven years since I listened to either of them, in any of the three versions I have.
All in all, though I have probably at many times seemed at odds with my original statement, I highly recommend the Levine/Chicago Symphony Orchestra recording of Holst's 'The Planets.' Not only is it a good all-around effort, it contains the most powerful and meaningful interpretation of "Mars" I have ever heard. Everything else pales in comparison. If you like lyricism and dynamic restraint, then you should also look at Dutoit. If you like staid interpretation that nevertheless takes some liberties, you can split the difference between Levine and Dutoit with Previn. And, though I have never heard it, the Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker recording is reputed to be reference-worthy. Some hate the latter, yet some love it. Few seem to be indifferent. But then, that's how it always seems to be with a subjective matter such as interpretation of a major work. To each his own, I suppose.
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