Gustav Holst: Savitri op.25 (Kammeroper) on CD

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Although Savitri is rightly considered to be Holst’s first successful opera, its success was only achieved after at least six earlier attempts at the medium: opera clearly obsessed Holst in his early years. He spent much of his time as a student reading and listening to the music of Wagner. In Imogen Holst’s words, ‘He ate and drank Wagner and took in huge draughts of Wagner with every gasp of air he breathed’.

The music is scored more elaborately, perhaps, than Holst might have allowed himself. But, bearing in mind the pianistic nature of the original, I hope that the result is as close to the spirit of the music as a conscious attempt to recreate Holst’s own orchestral idiom would be.

Rezensionen

»This CD contains one of the masterpieces of British music of the last century ... Savitri deserves a place of honour on the shelf marked ›British‹ « (International Record Review)

»If you have not come across Holst’s Savitri, then I envy you the prospect of hearing this small miracle of a one-act opera for the first time. Fine performances make this a budget-price bargain« (Classic FM Magazine)

»An attractive disc« (BBC Music Magazine)

»A fine issue« (Hi-Fi News)

»Full, immediate recording« (The Daily Telegraph)

»Most vivid and sensitive performance« (Gramophone)

Reviews