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Review by mwgfrg March 5, 2012 (6 of 6 found this review helpful)
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Performance:  Sonics:  |
A few weeks ago I had some unkind things to say about the EMI SACD of the Rattle/Berlin Planets and noted that this, the last and almost certainly best of Boult's multiple recordings, was due out shortly from Japanese EMI, and here it is. I suppose you could characterize the recording as "middle of the road", with no striking departures from standard performing practices, until you remember that more than anyone else Boult established those sane and sensible performing practices. Mars does not pound its way into an Excedrin headache, the famous "roastbeef" theme of Jupiter is not pulled about and milked to an inch of its life, Neptune sounds like Holst, not poor film cliche. The sound is excellent late golden age analog; I haven't heard any RBCD transfer but the SACD compares quite favorably to the HMV LP original, if not quite as transparent in the upper frequencies and a bit more solid (or at least heavier) in the bass. This is, in short, the welcome return of a classic performance.
Since I commented on the Rattle and expressed my strong preference over it in favor of the DG Gardiner recording, I have also acquired the Andrew Davis Chandos SACD, which is similarly superb. I suppose if I could only have one SACD, I would choose either Davis or Gardiner--I'm not yet sure which, although most probably the Davis--but since I don't I am happy to add this welcome issue to the other two. Certainly there is now an embarrassment of riches in the medium.
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