Holst: The Planets Op. 32; Elgar: Enigma Variations Op. 36 - Karajan (Holst); Monteux (Elgar)
Gustav Holst: The Planets Op. 32 - Wiener Philharmoniker; Wiener Staatsopernchor; Herbert von Karajan
Edward Elgar: Variations on an Original Theme, Op.36 "Enigma" - London Symphony Orchestra; Pierre Monteux
Classical | 1 CD | EAC v0.99pb4 Rip | 405 Mb | FLAC+LOG+M3U+Cue | Full Scans | RS links
Publisher: Decca
This has long been a favourite account of The Planets and it is in my view one of Karajan's most distinguished and indeed original contributions to the catalogue. Of course the Previn (HMV ASD3002, 7/74> and the Boult (ASD2301, 3167) versions are indispensable and I have found a soft spot, too, for Sargent in this work. His true stereo version can be found in some record shops and supermarkets, very much a bargain at -under £1 on Fanfare S1T60025, 1/72, but the early Decca performance in electronic stereo on Eclipse ECS600 7/71—still sounds astonishingly well. Yet the most atmospheric account is Karajan's, and the Decca recording, spacious and with a superb ambient warmth matches his approach. The interpretation is certainly not a parochial one. Those whining Wagnerian tubas in "Mars" are matched by the almost Venusbergian sensuousness of "Venus" here (yet Karajan's sensuality is refined, never lascivious). "Mercury" is miraculously lightweight, and the VPO view of "Jupiter", while not lacking robustness, has an undoubtedly fresh feel about it. But it is in "Saturn" and "Uranus" that the music-making becomes really inspired, and Karajan's timing in the former piece is matched by superbly eloquent playing, with the Vienna brass memorable in both. The wordless chorus at the end of "Neptune", too, is most convincingly managed, and all in all this record, with its still demonstration-quality sound, is more than worth its reissue price. The only possible snag is the level of cut, lower than usual with Decca, which means that any surface imperfections will tell (although my review copy was excellent in this respect).
Ivan March, Gramophone
On this CD:
Gustav Holst:
1. The Planets, op.32 - 1. Mars, the Bringer of War
2. The Planets, op.32 - 2. Venus, the Bringer of Peace
3. The Planets, op.32 - 3. Mercury, the Winged Messenger
4. The Planets, op.32 - 4. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity
5. The Planets, op.32 - 5. Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age
6. The Planets, op.32 - 6. Uranus, the Magician
7. The Planets, op.32 - 7. Neptune, the Mystic
Wiener Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan
Edwar Elgar:
8. Variations on an Original Theme, Op.36 "Enigma" - Theme (Andante)
9. Variations on an Original Theme, Op.36 "Enigma" - 1. C.A.E. (L'istesso tempo)
10. Variations on an Original Theme, Op.36 "Enigma" - 2. H.D.S.-P. (Allegro)
11. Variations on an Original Theme, Op.36 "Enigma" - 3. R.B.T. (Allegretto)
12. Variations on an Original Theme, Op.36 "Enigma" - 4. W.M.B. (Allegro di molto)
13. Variations on an Original Theme, Op.36 "Enigma" - 5. R.P.A. (Moderato)
14. Variations on an Original Theme, Op.36 "Enigma" - 6. Ysobel (Andantino)
15. Variations on an Original Theme, Op.36 "Enigma" - 7. Troyte (Presto)
16. Variations on an Original Theme, Op.36 "Enigma" - 8. W.N. (Allegretto)
17. Variations on an Original Theme, Op.36 "Enigma" - 9. Nimrod (Adagio)
18. Variations on an Original Theme, Op.36 "Enigma" - 10. Intermezzo: Dorabella (Allegretto)
19. Variations on an Original Theme, Op.36 "Enigma" - 11. G.R.S. (Allegro di molto)
20. Variations on an Original Theme, Op.36 "Enigma" - 12. B.G.N. (Andante)
21. Variations on an Original Theme, Op.36 "Enigma" - 13. Romanza *** (Moderato)
22. Variations on an Original Theme, Op.36 "Enigma" - 14. Finale: E.D.U. (Allegro - Presto)
London Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Monteux
Exact Audio Copy V0.99 prebeta 4 from 23. January 2008
EAC extraction logfile from 5. July 2009, 23:19
VPO, Karajan (Holst); LSO, Monteaux / Holst The Planets Op.32; Elgar Enigma Variations Op.36
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Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : No
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Used output format : User Defined Encoder
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EAC extraction logfile from 5. July 2009, 23:19
VPO, Karajan (Holst); LSO, Monteaux / Holst The Planets Op.32; Elgar Enigma Variations Op.36
Used drive : ASUS DRW-1814BL Adapter: 2 ID: 0
Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : No
Make use of C2 pointers : No
Read offset correction : 6
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : No
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 768 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files\Exact Audio Copy\FLAC\FLAC.EXE
Additional command line options : -6 -V -T "ARTIST=%a" -T "TITLE=%t" -T "ALBUM=%g" -T "DATE=%y" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%n" -T "GENRE=%m" -T "COMMENT=%e" %s -o %d
TOC of the extracted CD
Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––-
1 | 0:00.32 | 7:02.50 | 32 | 31731
2 | 7:03.07 | 8:22.00 | 31732 | 69381
3 | 15:25.07 | 3:58.38 | 69382 | 87269
4 | 19:23.45 | 7:38.00 | 87270 | 121619
5 | 27:01.45 | 8:33.00 | 121620 | 160094
6 | 35:34.45 | 5:45.62 | 160095 | 186031
7 | 41:20.32 | 7:45.63 | 186032 | 220969
8 | 49:06.20 | 1:16.50 | 220970 | 226719
9 | 50:22.70 | 1:57.50 | 226720 | 235544
10 | 52:20.45 | 0:47.25 | 235545 | 239094
11 | 53:07.70 | 1:21.25 | 239095 | 245194
12 | 54:29.20 | 0:27.00 | 245195 | 247219
13 | 54:56.20 | 1:55.00 | 247220 | 255844
14 | 56:51.20 | 1:19.62 | 255845 | 261831
15 | 58:11.07 | 0:56.00 | 261832 | 266031
16 | 59:07.07 | 1:54.63 | 266032 | 274644
17 | 61:01.70 | 3:50.37 | 274645 | 291931
18 | 64:52.32 | 2:39.00 | 291932 | 303856
19 | 67:31.32 | 0:56.00 | 303857 | 308056
20 | 68:27.32 | 2:25.00 | 308057 | 318931
21 | 70:52.32 | 2:39.00 | 318932 | 330856
22 | 73:31.32 | 4:58.13 | 330857 | 353219
Range status and errors
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Filename O:\My Documents\My Music\Holst - Franck\VPO, Karajan (Holst); LSO, Monteaux - Holst The Planets Op.32; Elgar Enigma Variations Op.36.wav
Peak level 100.0 %
Range quality 100.0 %
Copy CRC F222C52E
Copy OK
No errors occurred
AccurateRip summary
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Track 2 accurately ripped (confidence 3) [171C8B38]
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