Gustav Holst - The Planets (Adrian Boult)

Information

Composer: Gustav Holst

• The Planets, Op. 32

New Philharmonia Orchestra

Adrian Boult, conductor

Date: 1967 / 2026

Label: Warner Classics

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This acclaimed recording of Gustav Holst’s The Planets stands as an enduring benchmark, perfectly balancing artistic passion and orchestral precision under conductor Adrian Boult, who premiered the score and recorded it five times. Engineered by Christopher Bishop’s team, the release achieved legendary status for its extraordinary dynamic range, exceptional transparency, and remarkably natural rendition of the final choral fade-out. Widely recognized upon its initial debut for set-apart technical brilliance, this celebrated masterpiece of audio production remains a definitive audiophile standard and is now available in a newly remastered high-resolution edition.

Adrian Boult (1889–1983) was an influential British conductor renowned for shaping major twentieth-century orchestras and championing modern repertoire. After musical studies in England and Leipzig, he became the founding chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1930, establishing it as a premier ensemble. Following his tenure at the BBC, he spearheaded the revival of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, serving as its principal conductor from 1950 to 1957 and maintaining a fruitful relationship with the group into his late career. Famous for premiering Gustav Holst's The Planets alongside works by Elgar, Vaughan Williams, and foreign modernists, Boult left an enduring legacy through extensive studio recordings.

High Resolution 24-Bit / 96 kHz