Est 1923

Holst Planets; Elgar Enigma Variations

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Edward Elgar, Gustav Holst

Label: BBC Radio Classics

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 76

Mastering:

ADD

Catalogue Number: BBCRD9104

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Variations on an Original Theme, 'Enigma' Edward Elgar, Composer
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Edward Elgar, Composer
Malcolm Sargent, Conductor
(The) Planets Gustav Holst, Composer
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Gustav Holst, Composer
Malcolm Sargent, Conductor
Holst's spectacular suite always was a Sargent speciality and the present live display offers ample proof. Highlights include a genuinely sparkling ''Mercury'' (where the BBC orchestra initially sound more than a little flustered by Sir Malcolm's dashing tempo) and a ''Jupiter'' which excitingly combines exuberance and dignity. Impeccable pacing is a feature of both ''Venus'' and ''Saturn''; ''Mars'' is energetic rather than menacing, effective enough in its bright and breezy way. Occasional mishaps do occur, most notably during the principal cello's gorgeous brief solo at 4'34'' in ''Venus'', and the 1965 Royal Festival Hall recording is somewhat pale and lacking in dynamic thrust; audience coughs obtrude from time to time, but never too damagingly. Whilst this remains an enjoyable enough memento overall, Sir Malcolm's red-blooded conception is better served by his early stereo commercial recording with these same forces: formerly available on EMI Eminence, it would make an excellent addition to EMI's super-budget Encore series.
Captured at a 1966 Royal Albert Hall Prom, Sargent's Enigma enshrines a mobile, agreeably idiomatic interpretation, bluff rather than specially imaginative, perhaps, but undoubtedly a deeply felt, cogent whole for all that. Needless to report, Sargent's direction is totally free of mannerism and the results can be very invigorating—try ''Troyte'' or ''G. R. S.''. Again, alas, the sound is nothing special. Fans of this often unfairly maligned conductor may well wish to investigate this budget-price offering: newcomers in search of this particular pairing would be better advised to pay a few pounds extra and acquire the mid-price EMI Studio Plus CD containing Sir Adrian Boult's authoritative final thoughts on these two ever-rewarding masterpieces.'

Holst Planets; Elgar Enigma Variations

Variations on an Original Theme, 'Enigma'

(The) Planets

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