Gustav Holst – The Planets – Berliner Philharmoniker, Sir Simon Rattle (2006)
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:24:23 minutes | 700 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Master, Official Digital Download – Source: Q0buz | Artwork: Digital Booklet | © Warner Classics
Recorded: 15–18.III.2006, Philharmonie, Berlin
Internationally recognized conductor Sir Simon Rattle and the Berliner Philharmoniker interprets Holst’s celebrated work, The Planets. The engaging listen vividly depicts the enthralling lyricism and dynamics of each movement creating spectacular dimensions. The release finds the extension of the solar system adding pieces by Mark-Anthony Turnage, Matthias Pintscher, Kaija Saariaho, Brett Dean and Colin Matthews.
Since Pluto has been deprived of planetary status by the International Astronomical Union and designated with the asteroid number 134340, there is no longer any need to append Gustav Holst’s The Planets with Colin Matthews’ Pluto: The Renewer. Nevermind that Holst’s conception was based more on astrology than astronomy, or that his out-of-sequence planetary framework was used for its artistic, not scientific, value; some unreconstructed Pluto fans will never be satisfied with its quiet ending at Neptune. In spite of the dwarf planet’s demotion, those who insist on having Matthews’ optional ending can turn to respectable recordings by Mark Elder, David Lloyd-Jones, and Owain Arwel Hughes, or try this 2006 double-disc from EMI. Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic offer not only a gripping reading of The Planets and Matthews’ Pluto, but also fill out their musical solar system with a handful of astronomically inspired pieces. Kaija Saariaho’s haunting Asteroid 4179: Toutatis and Mark-Anthony Turnage’s brutal Ceres are rather straightforward in depicting their orbiting subjects, while Matthias Pintscher’s mythological tone poem, towards Osiris, and Brett Dean’s Komarov’s Fall, based on the cosmonaut’s tragic death, are more loosely evocative but just as powerful. Rattle and the orchestra recorded these pieces in concert, so the performances have a bit of a rough edge; but this is sufficiently balanced by the fine atmospherics and shimmering sonorities the Berlin Philharmonic serves up. EMI’s sound is quite good throughout, with little of the haziness that sometimes attends Rattle’s live recordings. This enhanced package also offers bonus video material, The Making of The Planets and Asteroids, and the liner notes provide background information behind each work. ~~AllMusic Review by Blair Sanderson
Tracklist:
Gustav Holst (1874–1934)
The Planets Op.32 (Suite for large orchestra)
1. Mars, the Bringer of War 07:25
2. II. Venus, the Bringer of Peace 08:59
3. III. Mercury, the Winged Messenger 04:02
4. IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity 08:02
5. V. Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age 09:35
6. VI. Uranus, the Magician 06:04
7. VII. Neptune, the Mystic 07:02
Colin Matthews (b.1946)
8. Pluto, The Renewer 06:16
Kaija Saariaho (b.1952)
9. Asteroid 4179 – Toutatis 04:36
Matthias Pinscher (b.1971)
10. Towards Osiris 07:56
Mark-Anthony Turnage (b.1960)
11. Ceres 06:40
Brett Dean (b.1961)
12. Komarov’s Fall 07:49
Personnel:
Rundfunkchor Berlin (women’s voices, tracks 7 and 8)
Chorus master for this production Robin Gritton
Chief conductor Simon Halsey
Berliner Philharmoniker
Sir Simon Rattle, conductor
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