Holst: The Planets

This listing is in the past

Southbank Centre: Royal Festival HallBelvedere Road, London, Greater London, SE1 8XX, United Kingdom

Dates/times in London time zone

Programme

Smetana, Bedřich (1824-1884)	Má vlast: Vltava (The Moldau)
Elgar, Sir Edward (1857-1934)	Cello Concerto in E minor, Op.85
Holst, Gustav (1874-1934)	The Planets, Op.32

Performers

Santtu-Matias Rouvali	Conductor
Alban Gerhardt	Cello
Philharmonia Orchestra
Leicester University Chamber Choir
Leicester Bach Choir

The haunting beauty of Elgar’s Cello Concerto sits alongside Holst’s planetary masterpiece. Holst took his inspiration from the astrological rather than the astronomical, journeying through Mars, the apocalyptic ‘Bringer of War’; a tranquil Venus; Mercury’s winged messenger; Jupiter, the stately ‘Bringer of Jollity’; Saturn’s old age, Uranus ‘The Magician’ and finally, a dreamy Neptune, ‘The Mystic’.

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A personal take: Elgar’s Cello Concerto at 100

Bachtrack, 25th October

To celebrate the centenary of Sir Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto we have asked some acclaimed cellists to share with us some of their personal memories connected to this masterpiece.

Geographical and astrological surveys from the Philharmonia

Dominic Lowe, 23rd April

A disappointing extract from Smetana's Má vlast was redeemed by a refreshingly clear performance of Elgar's Cello Concerto and a characterful account of Holst's The Planets.

***11