Re: Which Planets is best?


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Posted by Barry Guerrero on October 16, 2001 at 13:01:46:

In Reply to: Which Planets is best? posted by dmmorris on October 16, 2001 at 08:14:04:

As with any piece of standard orchestral rep., there are just way too many recordings of "The Planets" to proclaim one as being, "the best". I would suggest that you choose a recording by what it's coupled to, rather than "who's playing tuba".

For example, the really exciting William Steinberg/BSO "Planets" has been reissued on DG's super-dooper remastered "Originals" series, coupled to his equally exciting (and well played) "Also Sprach Zarathustra".

John Elliot Gardner (with London's Philharmonia Orchestra) has also recorded the "Planets" for DG, coupled to a really fascinating piece by Percy Grainger called, "The Warriors".

EMI has issued a Leopold Stokowski/L.A.Phil. "Planets" on their "FDS - Full Dimensional Sound" series, coupled to a knockout stereo recording of Schoenberg's "Verklaerte Nacht" (Transfigured Night). Both recordings are from the late '50's. You just have to sit back and enjoy Stoki's addition of a big gong roll at the end of "Mars".

You could always get Sir Adrian Boult's last and final recording of the "Planets", coupled to his equally difinitive "Enigma Variations" by Elgar. That's also from EMI, and both recordings were made in the late '70's.

There's a very decent budget version on the Arte Nova label, that's coupled to Holst's fascinating "Perfect Fool" Ballet Suite. Adrian Leaper conducts the Orquestra Filharmonica of the Grand Canary Islands - a very good orchestra, believe it or not. It sells for about six or seven bucks.

RCA is just about to reissue their excellent Leonard Slatkin/Philharmonia version on some new 24 bit/96 herz remastered series that they're about to introduce, priced for about $10. That's going to be coupled to V.W.'s "Fantasia on a theme of Thomas Tallis", and his "Variations on Greensleeves".

If you don't care about having ANY coupling at all, and just want a knockout "Planets" in terms of both performance and SOUND, I would suggest the Yoel Levi/Atlanta Symphony one on Telarc.

If you plan on getting a DVD Audio player, EMI is going to issue their late '70's Andre Previn/LSO "Planets" on to that format. That one presents John Fletcher at his absolute best.

While many people will disagree with this, I would stay away from the James Levine/CSO "Planets" on DG. It's just not that great, considering both Levine's conducting and the sound quality involved.

Hope this helps,
Barry Guerrero


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