Holst: The Planets, Op. 32 – Elgar: Serenade, Op. 20

This release contains two of the most enduringly beautiful works by English composers on one album: Gustav Holst’s ever popular orchestral suite The Planets and Elgar’s lyrical Serenade for Strings. This is a great performance from Roger Norrington and his Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR. Holst’s The Planets Op. 32 is possibly his most well-known piece. Even today, a century after its composition, the work is widely performed and frequently recorded. The concept of the work is astrology- which is why the Earth is not included in the movements. The movements convey ideas and emotions associated with the influents of the planets on the psyche. Roger Norrington is known for his interpretation of British composers, which makes this recording all the more authentic and spectacular. This album is part of a new re-release series (Century Classics) consisting of SWR music bestsellers. The series is competitively priced, optically highly attractive and contains acclaimed SWR recordings mostly of the SWR orchestras and their chief conductors.