Gustav Holst's The Planets, Op. 32 is presented here on vinyl by Vinyl Passion Classical, pairing one of the twentieth century's most popular orchestral suites with a celebrated reading by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra under Herbert von Karajan. The original recording has been remastered and cut using DMM (Direct Metal Mastering) for this LP edition.
The Work
Composed between 1914 and 1917, The Planets is a seven-movement orchestral suite in which each movement portrays a planet of the solar system and its associated astrological character. The sequence runs from Mars, the Bringer of War through Venus, Mercury and Jupiter to Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, the Mystic, the closing movement joined by the wordless voices of the Vienna State Opera Chorus.
Performance
Herbert von Karajan conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra across all seven movements. The tracklist is spread over two sides: Mars, Venus, Mercury and Jupiter on Side A; Saturn, Uranus and Neptune on Side B.