Vernon “Todd” Handley (b. 1930), a student of Boult, conducts the present recording of The Planets and Saint Paul’s Suite. Over the past 40 years Handley has made countless award-winning recordings for major labels, mainly of British music including the complete symphonies of Bax, Arnold, Vaughan Williams, Simpson and Stanford. The Brook Green Suite is conducted by Barry Wordsworth, one of the world’s leading ballet conductors whose name has become synonymous with the London-based Royal Ballet.
Best of the Year 2007: “This recording was released nearly 20 years ago but had an ephemeral life on an obscure label. I recall visiting shop after shop in the UK eventually tracking down a cassette copy of it. That cassette contained a truly exciting performance of The Planets by Vernon Handley. I welcome its re-release in spectacular digital sound and on a budget label.”
-Len Mullinger, MusicWeb International
“If this were to be the only recording of The Planets you ever heard, it would be enough.”
-Qobuz
