The Planets by Holst reviewed by Nigel Simeone 11th January 2025

The ever popular Planets is a seven-movement orchestral suite by Gustav Holst, written during the First World War. Each movement describes in music the character of a planet. After some initial hostility among a few critics the suite soon became widely performed. During a holiday in Spain with the composer Arnold Bax and others, a discussion about astrology got Holst interested in the subject. Apparently Holst became "a remarkably skilled interpreter of horoscopes". Shortly after the holiday Holst wrote : "I only study things that suggest music to me ... the character of each planet suggested lots to me, and I have been studying astrology fairly closely". The characteristics the composer gave to the planets may have been taken from a booklet by Alan Leo: "What Is a Horoscope?" The title of two movements – "Mercury, the Winged Messenger" and "Neptune, the Mystic" – came from this book. But although astrology was Holst's starting point, he arranged the planets to suit his own musical plan.
Recommended version:
The Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Adrian Boult (conductor)
Warner Classics 6230772