Holst: Planets (The) / The Mystic Trumpeter, Op. 18 Royal Scottish National Orchestra & David Lloyd-Jones

• 1 I. Mars, the Bringer of War 07:00
• 2 II. Venus, the Bringer of Peace 07:17
• 3 III. Mercury, the Winged Messenger 03:56
• 4 IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity 07:57
• 5 V. Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age 09:20
• 6 VI. Uranus, the Magician 06:09
• 7 VII. Neptune, the Mystic - 06:54
• 8 Pluto, the Renewer 06:42
• 9 The Mystic Trumpeter, Op. 18 18:30
• Total Runtime 01:13:45

Info for Holst: Planets (The) / The Mystic Trumpeter, Op. 18

Gustav Holst's The Planets has been recorded dozens of times over the decades and might never have been recorded again but for the fact that in 2000 composer Colin Matthews wrote a movement for Pluto, which was undiscovered during the First World War when Holst composed the suite. "Pluto the Renewer" is the title Matthews gave to our furthest orb, which takes 248 years to circle the Sun and for 20 of those years flies within Neptune's orbit. Thus Matthews cunningly requires his tribute to emerge from within the petering female chorus of "Neptune"'s tail as if it were an eclipsing moon.

"David Lloyd-Jones’s reading with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra is even finer than Elder’s, more spontaneous-sounding if not always quite so polished. Where Lloyd-Jones scores is in bringing out the contrasted character of each movement, starting with an account of Mars which in its urgency and menace contrasts strongly with the strangely relaxed view of Elder. Mercury is lighter and wittier, Jupiter jollier and Uranus more full of flair. Where Elder has for coupling a rare late work, Lloyd-Jones and Matthews have unearthed a very early work of Holst’s that was never performed, a Scena to a text by Walt Whitman, which may reveal little of Holst’s mature style, but which is colourful and atmospheric and well worth hearing. Full, vivid sound." (Penguin Guide)

"On the whole, David Lloyd-Jones and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra turn in a more satisfying and characterful performance of The Planets plus Pluto than we heard on Hyperion's disc containing the latter's premiere... Actually, what makes this disc worth owning isn't The Planets, but The Mystic Trumpeter, a gorgeous Whitman setting for soprano and orchestra that deserves far more attention on disc than it has received to date. Claire Rutter delivers the text with excellent diction and generally lovely tone...Naxos earns the thanks of all Holst fans for reviving this neglected work in such an impressive performance." (David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com)

Royal Scottish National Orchestra
David Lloyd-Jones, conductor
Claire Rutter, soprano
Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus (Ladies)

Recorded 17th - 18th February 2001 in the City Halls, Glasgow
Producer: Andrew Walton (K&A Productions Ltd.)
Engineer: Eleanor Thomason
Assistant Engineer: Peter Newble

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This album contains no booklet.