Holst: The Planets, 'Mars' - BBC Proms

#bbc

[miracleofsound]

Imagine hearing this in the 1910s, when recorded music was still teething, long before the days of being able to blare bombastic movie soundtracks in our living rooms... what a mind blowing experience that must have been to hear something so powerful!

[BartAlder]

Love the ferocious intensity of the conductor, definitely matches the intensity of 'Mars'.

[audreis]

The energy of the conductor is AMAZING!!!

[SmileyandTheUnderclass]

Isn't it amazing that Holst never actually went to Mars, but knew exactly what the music was like there?

[socksumi]

Fun fact... Holst: 'Mars' was the inspiration for Black Sabbath's legendary riff in their 1970 hit "Black Sabbath" that launched heavy metal as a music genre. Black Sabbath's guitarist was an admirer of Holst: 'The Planets'.

[uio]

Honestly, this Is the most passion I have seen in a conductor in awhile. She was purely excellent.

[beanz_]

There was a flute player with a killer mustache at 5:39. He is clearly the coolest person in the orchestra, and that's a fact.

[devic]

This has to be one of the most vivid interpretations of Holst's Mars. The conductor says it all, she's as furious as it gets. Just marvellous! As it was supposed to be. Gustav Holst would've been proud. Well, I'm thrilled by this.

[ESE]

I _LOVE_ how into it the conductor was. She had so much energy and passion for this, it was so much fun to watch

[AmirBrooks]

40 years after first hearing this, and it still gives me goosebumps

[Ajescent]

This piece of music is an all time classic, it never gets old.

[Gleadless]

Holst the planets one of the greatest pieces of music ever written

[johndoe]

The conductor has a very commanding presence. It's as though she could draw the sound straight out of the earth, orchestra or not. Excellent!

[pongysocks]

This piece of music frightened me so much as a child.

[jamesavatar]

Finally, someone who does the Euphonium solo justice!

[Mr_Bunk]

I like how this is one of the few pieces of classical music to show war as not something to glorify, but something horrible, monstrous, tragic and basically unstoppable.

[ianw]

The conductor is behaving just like I would up there. Mars - Bringer of War is just too damn heavy not to rock out along to. Love the quality of the video and the playing!

[thestevenjaywaymusic]

I cannot stop listening to this masterpiece. Perfection

[adamdesanti]

4:04 - that chord progression leading us back into the explosive main statement is incredible. It's like you're turning a corner and seeing a massive terrible army on the march. This piece always blew me away as a kid. It's just sheer, raw power in 3 acts. The build-up and reveal is just tremendous. Holst did an epic 7-minute action/drama soundtrack 60 years ahead of it's time.

[markdu]

Yeah this is absolutely wonderful. The conductor is an inspiration. So gutsy and passionate. Makes this sound as fresh and powerful as anything could. I'm studying the score and listening to extracts over and over. The more I listen the better it gets!