The Planets

I had a meeting in London today after which I met up with Carol, my late best friend's wife, and her daughter and granddaughter who are spending a few days with Carol at her home in Northiam. After a nostalgic trip to the Hard Rock Cafe in Piccadilly (first visited in the 70s), we went to this evening's BBC Promenade concert at the Royal Albert Hall. The concert was given by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales,  who were joined in the second half by the London Symphony Chorus who provided the celestial voices at the end of Holst's Planets suite. It was a brilliant performances greatly appreciated by a capacity audience. The first half showcased two lesser known pieces including a violin concert by Grace Williams, written in 1950. The soloist, Geneva Lewis, is a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist and her playing was certainly deserving of that accolade. The 4th movement of The Planets is Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity, and features the tune that was subsequently turned into the hymn, I vow to thee my country. According to the programme notes, "Holst later regretted giving consent to the use of the words - as a serious-minded socialist he regarded 'God and Country' nationalism with suspicion, if not downright horror".  Given he wrote The Planets whilst the carnage of the First World War was unfolding, one can understand how he came to that view. The extras are interior shots of the Albert Hall and the Hard Roxk Cafe. The concert can be heard on BBC Sounds and I highly recommend it.