Though Sir Adrian Boult's love of English music was known around the world, this new 10-CD compilation shows he was also capable of equally great performances in a wider range of repertoire. The first half of this collection focuses on works by British composers Holst and Parry, music for which he cared deeply. The second half of the collection shows a more playful side to his musical personality through Russian Romantic dances, suites and overtures, and the repertoire of marches and intermezzi that was once staple fare and can still charm and entertain listeners. The final CD is a potpourri of popular orchestral works, including marches from the United States and a number of European countries. Many of these recordings are making their first appearance on CD.
CD Listing: CD 1: Holst: The Planets (1945); Elgar: Introduction and Allegro CD 2: Holst: The Planets (1966); Simpson: Symphony No. 1 CD 3: Holst: The Planets (1978); Howells: Concerto for String Orchestra CD 4: Holst: A Choral Symphony; Bliss: Music for Strings CD 5: Parry: Symphony No. 5, Blest Pair of Sirens, Symphonic Variations, Elegy for Brahms CD 6: Various: Marches and light classics CD 7: Tchaikovsky: Orchestral Suite No. 3, Capriccio Italian, Marche Slave, Gopak CD 8: Glinka: Ruslan and Lumila, Overture; Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty Suites CD 9: Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture; Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio espagnol; Stravinsky: Circus Polka; Smetana: The Baterred Bride Suite, Vltava CD 10: Various: Marches and light classics