Boult conducts Holst (1992)

As a collection of lesser-known orchestral works by the composer of The Planets, this disc of Holst recordings by Adrian Boult with the London Philharmonic and the London Symphony from the early '70s has a grade-A selection. Many of the works may be unfamiliar to all but those deeply immersed in Holst -- A Fugal Overture is sometimes recorded but this is the only extant recording of the Japanese Suite -- but they are all representative of the protean composer's huge range of interests, and Boult, one of the grand old men of ... Read More

As a collection of lesser-known orchestral works by the composer of The Planets, this disc of Holst recordings by Adrian Boult with the London Philharmonic and the London Symphony from the early '70s has a grade-A selection. Many of the works may be unfamiliar to all but those deeply immersed in Holst -- A Fugal Overture is sometimes recorded but this is the only extant recording of the Japanese Suite -- but they are all representative of the protean composer's huge range of interests, and Boult, one of the grand old men of British conductors, is an extremely persuasive advocate for all of them. With the LPO, Boult's A Somerset Rhapsody is wonderfully pastoral with loads of lush colors, his Beni Mora, oriental suite, is brightly colorful with plenty of rhythmic energy, his Hammersmith, prelude and scherzo for orchestra, is marvelously evocative and tremendously powerful, and his Scherzo is robustly rhythmic and strongly contrapuntal. With the LSO, his A Fugal Overture is slyly brilliant and vigorously... Read Less