Holst: The Planets/John Williams: Star Wars/Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra

The planets are magnificent, and the cd is excelent

I love the Planets Suite, and I was looking for a cd of the Planets to buy. When I saw this one with the Star Wars Suite. Close Encounters of the Third Kind, AND Also Sprach Zarathustra at this low of a price, I was hooked January 9, 2007

Lovely

I've thoroughly enjoyed both CD's. I do wish the Holst and Strauss pieces were a little louder, but I guess that's my radio's problem. November 3, 2006

If you like John Williams soundtracks, you'll love this!

Okay, so the album isn't all John Williams. However, I think the selections to create this album were superb! You get the best of outer space soundtracks with this double CD set!

I should mention that I enjoy this album merely because of the works used to put it together. Some of the interpretations left a bit to be desired (hence, the reason why I give this only four, instead of five, stars). For example, I felt the horn player in "Mars" (the first movement of "The Planets") was too overbearing (I thought he/she overdid the vibrato, among other things), rather than subtle (as done in the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal's version, ASN# B0000041S7 -- check out my review of that album). Additionally, I wasn't too crazy about "Cantina Band" in "Star Wars" -- it's not that I don't like the piece (I do!); rather, the fade out by the sound engineer was unnatural and inappropriate for an orchestral work. (C'mon, shouldn't a fine group led by the great Zubin Metha be able to perform a decrescendo ending without any electronic help?)

Criticism aside, let me say that I LOVE this album! Even though I might attack the performance quality, I loved how the works were selected and organized. If you're a fan of sci-fi or action/adventure soundtracks, you'll thoroughly enjoy what you hear! December 18, 2003

You gotta love it! Perfect for the Sci-Fi fan.

This is a great CD for the Sci-Fi fan. It has all of the music that you could want. It has the classic "Star Wars Suite" from " Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope," but it also includes the "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" suite from Lucas' director buddy, Steven Spielberg.

The compilers got another bull's-eye by including Holst's "The Planets," which is the source for the themes of Star Wars. For example, play "Mars," then listen to the themes associated with the Empire. Or play "Venus" and compare that to "Princess Leia's Theme." And the similarities between "Mercury" and "The Little People" are too obvious to state.

"The Cantina Theme" is strong, except for the bridge. In the original recording there were steel drums that are conspicuously absent.

For some reason, the entire "Also Sprach Zarathustra" was included on the CD. The introduction was made famous by "2001: A Space Odyssey," but the rest of the opus has been forgotten. I think they just had extra space on the CD, so they included the rest of the composition. Whatever reason, we are better for hearing all of the music that was based on Nietzsche's philosophical book of the same name.

The recording is clear and sharp, and I have had no technical problems with the CD skipping. The cover-art has some of those unusual pictures from the Hubble Telescope that gives the entire product that sense of otherness we all crave. November 27, 2002

Out of This World

This is the version of "Star Wars" you want. It has the raucus, almost bawdy victorious power you remember from the movie.

Likewise are the other pieces. Besides being the themes from "Star Wars", "2001: A Space Odyssey", "Close Encounters", there is the classical classic (can I say that?) work, "The Planets" by Holst.

I think the them to 2001 ("Thus Spake Zarathustra") also was the intro the famous Macintosh commerical (1984 Superbowl?).

These are more than pop-culture favorites that happen to be orchestral works. They are sophisticated and poetic, with more than easy melodies sweeping occasionally.

These are the complete suites. You might remember the glorious intro to 2001, but enjoy with this CD the full piece: almost 33 minutes.

The pace and range of the music undulates from serene, almost pastoral quietude to raging, fist in air excitement.

I fully recommend "Holst: The Planets/John Williams: Star Wars/Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra."

Anthony Trendl June 29, 2002

More reviews at Amazon.com ...