Holst: The Planets - Elgar: Enigma Variations / Litton, Bergen Philharmonic

$15.99
Label
BIS
Release Date
July 5, 2019
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      ELGAR HOLST
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
    • PERFORMER
      Litton
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      July 05, 2019
    • UPC
      7318599920689
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      BIS-2068
    • LABEL
      BIS
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Classical
    Works ⌄

    1. Introduction -

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    2. Variation 1: C. A. E. (The Composer's Wife) -

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    3. Variation 2: H. D. S-P. (Hew David Steuart-Powell) -

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    4. Variation 3: R. B. T. (Richard Baxter Townshend) -

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    5. Variation 4: W. M. B. (William Meath Baker) -

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    6. Variation 5: R. P. A. (Richard Penrose Arnold)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    7. Variation 6: Ysobel (Isabel Fitton) -

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    8. Variation 7: Troyte (Troyte Griffith) -

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    9. Variation 8: W. N. (Winifred Norbury) -

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    10. Variation 9: Nimrod (A. J. Jaeger) -

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    11. Variation 10: Intermezzo: Dorabella (Dora Penny) -

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    12. Variation 11: G. R. S. (George Robertson Sinclair) -

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    13. Variation 12: B. G. N. (Basil G. Nevinson) -

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    14. Variation 13: Romanza: *** (Lady Mary Lygon) -

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    15. Variation 14: Finale: E. D. U. (The Composer)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    16. I. Mars, the Bringer of War

      Composer: Gustav Holst

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    17. II. Venus, the Bringer of Peace

      Composer: Gustav Holst

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    18. III. Mercury, the Winged Messenger

      Composer: Gustav Holst

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    19. IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity

      Composer: Gustav Holst

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    20. V. Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age

      Composer: Gustav Holst

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    21. VI. Uranus, the Magician

      Composer: Gustav Holst

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton

    22. VII. Neptune, the Mystic

      Composer: Gustav Holst

      Ensemble: female section Bergen Philharmonic Choir, female section Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Litton


It is striking that two of the true classics in English orchestral music were composed within the short space of some fifteen years around the turn of the previous century. Edward Elgar's Enigma Variations have charmed as well as fascinated listeners since the first performance in 1899. In 14 remarkably diverse variations Elgar demonstrates his compositional mastery while creating miniature portraits of his closest friends, as well as of his wife and himself. By turns gentle, idyllic, tempestuous and boisterous, the pieces – which often run seamlessly into each other – nevertheless make up a coherent whole, like a group portrait taken during a country weekend. As for the enigma of the title, Elgar – who loved puzzles – maintained that another melody ‘went with’ the theme, and musicologists have searched for the answer ever since, without success.

In 1916 Gustav Holst completed another set of musical character sketches – his suite The Planets, in seven movements. These have little to do with astronomy and even less with the Roman deities whose names they carry. Holst was rather inspired by astrology and the suite actually concerns human character as influenced by the planets. The concept – like that of Elgar's variations – provides for a variety of moods and expressions, and in his score Holst took full advantage of these possibilities. To achieve this he made use of a large orchestra including much percussion, two harps, celesta, organ, two sets of timpani. He also included parts for certain unusual instruments such as bass flute, bass oboe and tenor tuba, and – in the final movement – a female chorus. Performing the programme in the warm acoustics of Bergen's Grieg Hall, the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra under Andrew Litton give it their all in this sonic spectacular.

REVIEW:

Established collectors will probably have multiple performances of these works in their collection. They may not have them coupled together, however, and that is a bonus, especially for those lucky youngsters coming new to these works and for whom this disc is the perfect choice. Superbly recorded and with an excellent insert note by Philip Borg-Wheeler, it carries a most convincing performance of The Planets and a revelatory one of the ‘Enigma’ Variations.

– MusicWeb International