GUSTAV HOLST: Two Noteworthy Recordings
Dave Powell
in their choice of Gustav Holst selections. Most stores feature several
recordings of The Planets and fail to exemplify work that Holst himself
considered his best; The Cloud Messenger, Op.30 and the hard to find
Choral Overture, Op. 41.
The Cloud Messenger is a wonderful choral piece that is worth studying.
I prefer the Chandos (CHAN8901) CD with Richard Hickox conducting the
London Symphony and Chorus with Della Jones- mezzo soprano. I highly
recommend this CD. It is not as mystic as much of Holst's work.
I also wanted to mention the rare but wonderful Choral Overture, Op.41
with Felicity Palmer, soprano with the London Symphony. (Adrian Boult,
cond) This is a rare EMI-Angel recording, available only on LP (at this
time) and was pressed in 1974. Of all Holst compositions, I consider
this his most brilliant. This recording was missed by many because the
overture was re-opened through a study score. Prior to and since 1974,
no one has recorded this amazing orchestral suite. The performance is
exhuberant and this is the only recording ever pressed. Note also
that the text for the Choral Overture is by John Keats.
I would appreciate any response or comments considering Holst or these
recordings!
Cheers!
Dave Powell
kpo...@neonramp.com
David M. Cook
Dave Powell <kpo...@neonramp.com> wrote:
>I also wanted to mention the rare but wonderful Choral Overture, Op.41
>with Felicity Palmer, soprano with the London Symphony. (Adrian Boult,
>cond) This is a rare EMI-Angel recording, available only on LP (at this
>time) and was pressed in 1974.
I just bought this recently at a used CD shop. It's coupled with the
Choral Fantasia conducted by Imogen Holst. The CD number was 49638.
Dave Cook
Rick Hayward
Dave Powell <kpo...@neonramp.com> writes:
> It seems that most classical record/CD stores fail to show diversity
> in their choice of Gustav Holst selections. Most stores feature several
> recordings of The Planets and fail to exemplify work that Holst himself
> considered his best; The Cloud Messenger, Op.30 and the hard to find
> Choral Overture, Op. 41.
I think that you mean the Choral Symphony Op. 41 (the Choral Fantasia
is Op. 51). Both the recordings that you mention - but particularly
that of the Choral Symphony (an authoritative first recording) -
should be in any Holst enthusiast's collection.
As a previous thread has shown, there is a lot of lesser-known Holst
to explore - a project that can be very rewarding. What individual
stores will carry, in my experience, is usually a function of size;
this means that for those without easy access to a major centre of
population, resorting to mail-order (armed with a comprehensive
catalogue such as The Gramophone's) is probably the best option.
Incidentally, in the UK, the BBC recently broadcast a three-hour
survey of Holst's life and music, which was a fascinating document.
RH --
Rick Hayward, Wakefield, West Yorkshire
rick.h...@zetnet.co.uk
Jonathan Ives
>
> It seems that most classical record/CD stores fail to show diversity
> in their choice of Gustav Holst selections. Most stores feature several
> recordings of The Planets and fail to exemplify work that Holst himself
> considered his best; The Cloud Messenger, Op.30 and the hard to find
> Choral Overture, Op. 41.
>
> I prefer the Chandos (CHAN8901) CD with Richard Hickox conducting the
> London Symphony and Chorus with Della Jones- mezzo soprano. I highly
> recommend this CD. It is not as mystic as much of Holst's work.
>
> with Felicity Palmer, soprano with the London Symphony. (Adrian Boult,
> cond) This is a rare EMI-Angel recording, available only on LP (at this
> this his most brilliant. This recording was missed by many because the
> overture was re-opened through a study score. Prior to and since 1974,
> no one has recorded this amazing orchestral suite. The performance is
> exhuberant and this is the only recording ever pressed. Note also
> that the text for the Choral Overture is by John Keats.
>
> I would appreciate any response or comments considering Holst or these
> recordings!
>
> Cheers!
>
> Dave Powell
> kpo...@neonramp.com
I agree completely. I'd also like to put in a vote for the Choral Hymns
to Rig Veda. I have a wonderful recording on Unicorn conducted by David
Willcox , and I think there is a DECCA recording of some of the Hymns.