On the 21st of September 1874, the wonderful composer of The Planets Gustav Holst was born in Gloucestershire, England.Â
A shy and private man, he was dismayed to come to such fame and recognition after the international success of his orchestral suite. And even though he did compose other equally compelling pieces, none of them ever reached the sensational fame of the Planets.Â
What's your favourite Planets recording?
Mine is this one:
https://app.idagio.com/albums/080d5434-c977-4cba-aa88-d37c660c46d3
https://music.apple.com/eg/album/holst-the-planets/1461107203?ls
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Cheerio 🤗,Â
Dinah
You know when you grow up with a recording and you never really grow out of that recording? Well, this is one of those works where I'm still stuck in the 1959 Sir Adrian Boult recording.
When I was young, my mum subscribed to the World Record Club (Australian version). The Adrian Boult, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper version of The Planets was part of the series. I remember how mesmerised I was by the music as a child. I still am.
And, delightfully, Idagio has that recording in its catalogue:
https://app.idagio.com/recordings/18149960
It's really fun to be listening to your favourite recording, Dinah. It reminds me to get out of my rut! 
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By the way, when I was looking around for the details of that old recording, I came across this recording on Apple Music, conducted by Boult, coupled with Elgar's Enigma Variations. Quite an album:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/holst-the-planets-elgar-enigma-variations/695940609
Love Holst! Especially his Indian influenced compositions: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/holst-savitri-op-25-choral-hymns-from-the-rig-verda/1066570328?ls
And his Cotswold symphony, here together in a coupling with other orchestral music besides the Planets...
https://music.apple.com/gb/album/holst-orchestral-works-vol-4/1437156570?ls
He's far more than a "one hit wonder"...
