Review by raffells December 5, 2005 (3 of 3 found this review helpful)
Performance: Sonics:
Thhis is the cheapest Planets and certainly best value for money.In such competition its more akin to Soltis and Berstien than the Boult version.After a violent Mars ( I wish that was the end piece) this is top quality HIFI in a large clear acoustic.Only the jolity of Jupiter is slightly missing if you had to nit pick but its still excellent.Some magical bits here and there plenty of detail and depth plus plenty of wallop in the heavy sectiuons.Strange choral sound for the ending as the female choir seem to be all over the place as though they recorded it seperatly.Which the obviously did for the Filler piece Totally different sound and this would have been far better preceeding the main work instead of half a second after.Not perfect but very high up the list...Dave
Review by Jonty December 6, 2005 (3 of 3 found this review helpful)
Performance: Sonics:
I would endorse raffells' recommendation for this disc but I have one major reservation. The recording whilst revealing the acoustic of St. Augustine's Kilburn beautifully (I always like to hear birds helping out the musicians) has a thin and fizzy top. This is not the steely edge afflicting many Membran discs but an excessive brightness to the upper strings that makes the St. Paul's Suite almost unlistenable.It was like this on the original CDs and the SACD is no improvement. Technically Elder with the Halle on Hyperion is more truthful. Incidentally the women's voices in Neptune are meant to be off stage so the separated acoustic for them is authentic. In fact Holst descibes closing the door to the singers to create the fade out.
Handley's performance is absolutely up with the best so do buy this and filter off the top.
Sonics: 
Sonics: 
