Inge Johnsson | Sammamish, WA United States | 12/06/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I too like this performance, but the recording appears to be flawed. There is a constant pulsating very low rumble throughout the recording, which is very annoying. I do have a subwoofer in my setup, which of course aggravates the problem.I also have Telarc's DTS sampler, and when I went back and listened to the sample there I now noticed that it has the same problem.If you have a higher grade system with full range frequency response, I wouldn't recommend this recording for these reasons."
The best available recording of this composition
Woodland Poet | 11/04/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I did my research to find the best, highest-quality recording of The Planets by Gustav Theodore Holst, and this is the recording to buy. I love the Atlanta stuff on Telarc."
Quite good, but not the best
Hyacinth Tucker | 05/15/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this to replace a CD of a Bernstein interpretation from 1976 that somehow vanished. I like it quite a bit, but it's not my old Bernstein. Mars is a little slow and cluttered toward the end, and lacking the organ that really set the tone for me. Also, it was a little too legato in the louder portions. Jupiter also seemed to drag some. Saturn is really beutiful and haunting, though. Overall, it's grown on me. The Bernstein performance I had is out of print now and I can't find it anywhere, but I'm not disappointed by the replacement."
Alignment!
D. Seymour | Atlanta, GA USA | 04/02/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Although it is a near impossibility to experience the explosion of Mars through your speakers the way you can in the concert hall, with this recording you come darn close. Levi's Mars has drive, menace and he evolves the lyrical elements with great aplomb. It will vibrate you! Venus is is a welcome respite: feminine, soft, and soothing. Mercury launches itself back into the fray like a caffeine injection. Jupiter, the crown jewel of The Planets, is an absolute joy. The opening rise seems to shoot out of a cannon and the beautiful central hymn envelops as it builds to full strength. Saturn is both eerie and again transporting with its 'fate' themes. Then, after Uranus develops into a bombastic march, Neptune and the ethereal musing chorus will soothe you to sleep. Each of the planetary tone poems is its own unique entity and Levi's direction shows off Holst's masterpiece to the fullest. With Telarc's sonics and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's sound, The Planets will leave you with an unforgettable experience of musical whiplash."