Presto Recording of the Week
27th March 2026

London Symphony Orchestra, Tenebrae, Antonio Pappano

Holst: The Planets, Op. 32
Bax: Tintagel, GP 213

The London Symphony Orchestra and Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano capture two British masterpieces that continue to astonish and inspire. The album journeys through the cosmos with Gustav Holst's beloved Planets suite, from the relentless energy of "Mars" to the jubilant optimism of "Jupiter," concluding in mystery with "Neptune," which features the voices of Tenebrae in a wordless chorus. Arnold Bax's Tintagel closes the album, providing a sweeping portrait of Cornwall's rugged coastline and evoking ancient history and mythology in music that surges like the sea itself.

"It takes about two seconds to notice that this is a performance full of vivid detail. It's fascinating how Pappano paces 'Mars' in terms of its dramatic build-up – he doesn't just ask the orchestra to belt everything at full tilt, and what this means is that when the brass are allowed off the leash, the impact is all the more telling. As compelling as these moments are, where this reading scores equally highly is in the quieter, mysterious passages." — James Longstaffe, Presto Music, 27th March 2026