Composer

Join us for an immersive, sonic journey into the cosmos like no other. As the concert hall becomes a planetarium, lie down amongst the orchestra and listen to music themed around astronomy, whilst gazing at projections of the awe-inspiring universe in which we live.

The Night Sky

Smith Square Hall

A fabulous concert featuring a diverse range of singers and instrumentalists from Dulwich College, highlighting outstanding soloists and top-tier performers from across the school.

The Symphonic Wind Band performs Philip Sparke’s Portrait of a City, a musical reflection of London, his hometown, followed by the Brass Band ushering in the Christmas spirit with two festive classics.

Dulwich College Winter Concert

Cadogan Hall

Planet hop with us as the stunning images from the student artists of St. Dominic School  are projected above the orchestra, bringing the Sun and  Holst’s The Planets to life. The adventure continues with thrilling music of epic space movies.

EPSG:4326

Spaces Out

Beachwood High School

Infinite expanses. When the nights get longer, it's worth taking a look at the dark sky. In addition to the moon and the many sparkling stars, the planets of our solar system are particularly visible - for example, the powerfully shining Jupiter, the bright Venus, or the red glowing Mars. Even the ancient Romans invented stories about the planets visible to the naked eye. But it was the English composer Gustav Holst who set them to music. And so we embark on a musical journey through the universe. But what about Phili? Is our little meerkat girl flying along, or does she have completely different ideas? Stay tuned to find out!

phil to explore ...in the vastness of outer space

Palace of Culture

James MacMillan is Scottish, just like our chief conductor Sir Donald Runnicles. Both have known and respected each other for many years, so it is no wonder that MacMillan dedicated one of his symphonies to his friend. This symphony, the fourth of our Composer in Residence, contains everything that defines his composing style: opulent melodies stand alongside rich soundscapes, tight marches alongside harmonies reminiscent of Bach. The listeners are not safe from apparent coincidences - perhaps not surprising, considering MacMillan is a big football fan and loves the unpredictability of the game. In addition, one of the most popular symphonic works in English music, Holst's "The Planets," will be performed - continuing our British Festival with this concert.

Sir Donald with Holst

Gustav Holst’s The Planets captures the essence of our solar system in a groundbreaking, cinematic style. The opening of Mars, the Bringer of War alone reveals his profound influence on generations of (film) composers. Claude Debussy’s Nocturnes offers a contrasting journey, painting vivid atmospheric sketches of sunlight’s glow, clouded skies, and the sirens’ haunting song. Like Holst, Debussy masterfully integrates the choir in the final movement, creating an otherworldly allure that is both enchanting and irresistible.

The Planets by Gustav Holst

Queen Elisabeth Hall

The nighttime sky will never look the same after a concert of this nature! Climb aboard our audio version of the U.S.S. Enterprise as IPO takes you on an auditory adventure with Star Trek Through The Years (arranged by Calvin Custer), a compilation of some of the series’ most notable musical pieces. John Williams’ E.T. Adventures on Earth contributes to this out of this world evening, as does the closing number, Gustav Holst’s The Planets which takes the audience on a  journey throughout all the known planets of the Solar System seen from Earth at the time of its writing, and their corresponding astrological character. A video accompaniment with visuals by Adrian Wyard adds to this other worldly experience. 

NIGHT MOVES: The Planets, E.T. and Star Trek

Trinity Christian College

A program of rich chamber music spanning the 20th century, from Berkeley’s elegant Sextet and Delius’ atmospheric Three Small Tone Poems to Arnold’s spirited Quintet. The concert concludes with Holst’s expansive and deeply expressive Sextet in E Minor, a hidden gem that reveals the composer’s lyrical voice beyond his famous orchestral works.

Delius & Holst

Government House

This thrilling concert features Holst’s iconic suite alongside the US premiere of Dani Howard’s The Butterfly Effect and Debussy’s evocative Deux Nocturnes. Female choruses from WTAMU and Canyon High School join the journey, making this an unforgettable voyage!

The Planets

Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts

Gustav Holst's "The Planets" takes you on a musical journey through our solar system - but not as you might expect! Instead of dry astronomy, Holst brings the different planets to life with dramatic and exciting sounds. Each planet has its own mood: For example, the planet Mars, named after the ancient god of war, is portrayed with powerful, almost threatening rhythms. Venus, the goddess of love, on the other hand, sounds gentle and peaceful. Holst composed the music in a way that allows you to feel the characters of the planets directly - from the energy of wild Jupiter to the mysterious silence of Neptune. It is an exciting, slightly different classical experience that will both captivate and amaze you. Get ready to discover the planets in a whole new way!

abgeFRACKt: The Planets

Gustav Holst’s The Planets captures the essence of our solar system in a groundbreaking, cinematic style. The opening of Mars, the Bringer of War alone reveals his profound influence on generations of (film) composers. During this concert at The Planets, you will also enjoy a video projection with images from NASA.

The Planets by Gustav Holst: music and film

BOZAR

Step into a world where science, art, and music converge in What Music Is, a transformative concert-theatre experience that explores the profound role music plays in our lives and the universe. Created by composer Bill Barclay, this immersive, family-friendly performance features a full orchestra, captivating spoken narrative, and stunning animations that bring to life the universal language of music.

What Music Is

Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center

Bobby Ge + Holst's The Planets

Palace Theatre Albany

Depicting the shape of a solar system in loops and spirals, LSO opens with Missy Mazzoli’s Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres). LSO principal trombonist Scott Anderson takes the stage to perform Ferdinand David’s virtuosic Concertino for Trombone. After intermission, the orchestra performs Gustav Holst’s The Planets, an epic journey through our solar system.

Exploring the Expanse

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Two extraordinary Bulgarian musicians are featured in this electrifying concert program. Young conductor Delyana Lazarova leads her compatriot Dobrinka Tabakova's Orpheus Comet. German violinist Clara-Jumi Kangnous leads us into a fabulous display of virtuosity and lyricism with Prokofiev's Second Concerto . The irresistible melody of the Andante assai opens a visual world echoed in Gustav Holst's fascinating Planets . Having inspired John Williams's Star Wars score , this unique score draws on astrology to paint a musical portrait of the planets.

Holst's Lights on the Planets

Grand Théâtre de Québec

Holst’s best-known composition The Planets evokes planetary gods such as War, Peace, and Magic in an unforgettably powerful orchestral experience. Hindemith’s legendary viola concerto Der Schwanendreher features rising star viola virtuoso Emad Zolfaghari. We also will present the much-anticipated world premiere of Voices by Santa Cruz native Benjamin Goodwin.

Civic Auditorium Santa Cruz

Watsonville High School

Join us on a musical space adventure like no other when the Odense Symphony Orchestra explores known and unknown galaxies in a giant program with the biggest draw. Gustav Holst's Planeterne is a symphonic masterpiece that requires considerable instrumental muscle to realize, and the 7 movements that encapsulate the essence of the planets in our solar system are here followed by Colin Matthews's addition: Pluto – despite the fact that we are now no longer allowed to call the one planet. Ligeti's Atmosphères is the sound of being stretched out in space with no possibility of coming back – and that's what Stanley Kubrick heard when he catapulted the piece to world fame as an invisible and eerie co-star in his ground-breaking film Space Travel in 2001.

The Planets & Star Wars

Odense Concert Hall

Elevate your musical experience with our Sound of Innovation performances. This distinctive series, where innovation meets classical virtuosity, immerses you into a mix of traditional and contemporary compositions. Your experience includes dinner and a drink ticket

The Sound of Innovation

The Club Room at The Clyde

Fasten your seat belt, settle into your seat and join us on a symphonic astro-adventure to the outermost limits of the solar system.
Imagine traveling billions of kilometers to the farthest reaches of the solar system without leaving your seat in the concert hall. In a new collaboration between the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, The Animation Workshop, Animation Studio Tumblehead and Astrophysicist Anja Cetti Andersen, the concert hall is transformed into a living cosmos.

SymfUniverse

Aarhus Music Hall

Experience The Planets, the astrological romp that turned Gustav Holst into a rock star. The off-world orchestral suite spawned rock-and-roll remakes by bands such as Led Zeppelin and King Crimson. The one planet that didn't make the cut in Holst’s score—Earth—gets its due when the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra does a mashup with Hindustani violinist Kala Ramnath. Her scintillating, genre-bending evocation of the ancient elements of space, air, water, fire, and earth comes to life with composer Reena Esmail. Guest conductor Vinay Parameswaran launches the evening on a cosmic journey with Nina Shekhar’s seductively mesmerizing Lumina.

Celestial Illuminations featuring The Planets

The Woodruff Arts Center

Embark on a celestial journey as the JSO explores music inspired by the stars and beyond. Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst opens the program with its radiant energy, followed by Fernande Decruck’s evocative Hymne à Apollon, a nod to ancient mythology. The concert continues with selections from John Williams’ iconic Star Wars Suite, transporting you to galaxies far, far away. After intermission, Gustav Holst’s The Planets takes center stage, offering a breathtaking symphonic portrayal of the cosmos , enhanced by stunning visual projections from designer Camilla Tassi.

Star Wars & The Planets

Jackson College

A concert about the skies above us, beginning with Lera Auerbach’s cinematic description of the Ancient Greek mythological hero Icarus who killed himself by flying too close to the sun, followed by Ralph Vaughan Williams’s most popular piece, The Lark Ascending, a miniature violin concerto in which the soloist represents a tiny skylark on a spring day, flying higher and higher into the heavens and pouring out their love in cascades of folk-inspired melody. The concert ends with Gustav Holst’s evergreen and spectacular orchestral suite The Planets, describing the seven planets of ancient astrology, each with their own mysterious properties which shape our human lives and characters.

Music of the Heavens: Holst’s Planets

Jacobs Music Center

Phantasies

Künstlerhaus am Lenbachplatz

Step into a world shaped by sound and discover what’s ahead.

Opening Night

Mechanics bank theater

What do a Renaissance genius and the vastness of space have in common? Vision. Curiosity. A relentless drive to understand the world. Hagen’s The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci gives voice to the mind of a thinker whose ideas still shape our world, with the MSU Choir weaving his words into something almost otherworldly. Then, we set our sights on the stars with Holst’s The Planets, a piece that captures the energy, mystery, and wonder of the universe—from the commanding presence of Mars to the dreamlike drift of Neptune. Two journeys—one through history, one through the cosmos—both reminding us of the limitless nature of human imagination.

Wharton Center for Performing Arts

WDR Happy Hour - The Planets

Philharmonic Essen

Museum Ludwig

The concert features Holst's majestic The Planets, Op. 32, followed by Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, orchestrated by Ravel. These remarkable pieces highlight the Cape Ann Symphony's incredible talent and commitment to exceptional performances.

The Virtuoso Orchestra Concert

Manchester Essex Regional High School

The soundscapes of the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra's chamber concerts are as diverse as the personalities of the musicians who perform in them. The demands of the orchestra pit are often determined by the scale and diversity of voices. Chamber music, on the other hand, reduces this dimension to smaller ensembles and allows for intimate musical interaction. As in a dialogue, diverse opinions collide, new ideas emerge and develop during performance, thus opening up a creative space for spontaneous development.

Chamber Concert / Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

The soundscapes of the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra's chamber concerts are as diverse as the characters of the musicians who perform in them. The demands in the orchestra pit are often characterized by the size and diversity of the voices. Chamber music, on the other hand, reduces this dimension to smaller ensembles and allows for intimate musical interaction. As in a dialog, different opinions come together, new ideas emerge and develop during the performance, opening up a creative space for spontaneous development.

1st Chamber Concert

Elbphilharmonie

The most popular classical show in the UK returns to Manchester, combining the very best in classical music with magnificent lights and lasers! Ranging from a flood of pure white light to electrifying multi-coloured laser displays, the dazzling special effects bring to life the scenes and moods evoked by each glorious piece.

Classical Spectacular

The Bridgewater Hall

Embark on a symphonic journey to a realm of heroes, villains, fantastic creatures and faraway lands as SSO brings the thrill and grandeur of sweeping epic film scores to life in a program of familiar favorites (maybe even yours!). Join us for an unforgettable evening of passion, drama, danger and adventure…. and maybe even some music.

Symphonic Epic: Swords, Lords and Chords

Cain Park

Woodwinds + Brass: Dvořák, Shostakovich & Holst

New World Center

Continuing Education Brass Ensemble Recital

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

This evening's performance by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus is supported by the Alan J. and Suzanne W. Dworsky Fund for Voice and Chorus.

Poulenc Gloria and Holst The Planets with Kazuki Yamada

Tanglewood Music Center

Step onto the main stage and play along with members of The Philadelphia Orchestra for the 7th annual Philadelphia Orchestra PlayIN event at SPAC. Violin, viola, cello, and bass players of all ages are invited to play on the SPAC stage alongside members of The Philadelphia Orchestra.

PlayIN for Strings with The Philadelphia Orchestra

Saratoga Performing Arts Center

To kick off the season, the hr Symphony Orchestra, in collaboration with the European Central Bank, invites you to the Europa Open Air concert series. In the unique atmosphere on the banks of the Main River in Frankfurt, you can expect another captivating summer concert evening with chief conductor Alain Altinoglu. Up to 20,000 visitors regularly enjoy the hr Symphony Orchestra's summer concerts on the banks of the Main. As always, supported by the Elisabethen Quelle Foundation, this year's program features popular orchestral works by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Aram Khachaturian, and Gustav Holst, which have also enjoyed worldwide success in film. In addition, a rousing concerto for two pianos by Francis Poulenc and the renowned "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2" by Franz Liszt will be performed. Earlier in the evening, the hr Big Band, featuring Wolfgang Haffner and special guest Shantel, will provide the first musical highlights and create a lively atmosphere on the banks of the Main. In keeping with tradition, gastronomic offerings round off the Europa Open Air concert of the hr-Sinfonieorchester and the European Central Bank, to which all music lovers are once again very warmly welcomed.

Europa Open Air

Wesel shipyard

A Hero’s Life

Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts

Concert "London"

Schloss Moritzburg

One of the foremost conductors of our time, Marin Alsop, leads Gustav Holst’s iconic The Planets, a work that has inspired generations of sci-fi film composers, featuring the ferocity of “Mars, the Bringer of War”, the high-spirited “Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity,” and the ghostly suspense of “Neptune, the Mystic.” Holst’s exciting, cosmic score features a seven-movement orchestral suite, with each movement named after a planet of the Solar System and its corresponding astrological character as defined by Holst.

One of the foremost conductors of our time, Marin Alsop leads Gustav Holst’s iconic The Planets, a work that has inspired generations of sci-fi film composers, featuring the ferocity of “Mars, the Bringer of War,” the high-spirited “Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity,” and the ghostly suspense of “Neptune, the Mystic.” Holst’s exciting, cosmic score features a seven-movement orchestral suite, with each movement named after a planet of the solar system and its corresponding astrological character as defined by Holst.

Saratoga Spa State Park

Under the baton of principal conductor Edward Gardner, the London Philharmonic Orchestra returns to the Festival for the first time in a decade with a stunning programme.

Holst's The Planets

Usher Hall

Edinburgh International Festival

Join the amazing 12 and 13 year olds of NCO (National Children’s Orchestras) as they present to you their There’s No Planet B programme, featuring orchestral greats like Jean Sibelius’ Finlandia and Gustav Holst’s Jupiter from The Planets, alongside stirring new music from Debbie Wiseman (Carnival of the Endangered Animals) and Rachel Portman’s (Endangered).

National Children's Orchestra

From a bird in flight to the astrological personalities in our solar system to the vast mysteries of deep space, Leonard Slatkin presides over a night that invites audiences to look upward at the Southern California sky in wonder. The Hollywood Bowl was a family tradition for Los Angeles native Slatkin who grew up watching LA Phil performances from the benches. That family tradition gains a new chapter as Slatkin leads the orchestra in his son Daniel’s Voyager 130, which was inspired by the Golden Record on NASA’s Voyager spacecraft that carries Earth’s music to the edge of interstellar space.

Hollywood Bowl

Celebrating 27 years of challenging and nurturing the future leaders of the American classical music scene, the Credo Festival is a cherished part of Chicago’s summer musical scene. The Credo Festival Orchestra (an All-Star orchestra comprised of titled players from fifteen major American orchestras and students from the country’s major conservatories) will be led by David Chan (MET concertmaster).

Credo National Festival

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

In 2019, two of the Northwest’s premier local orchestras joined forces for the first time for a truly memorable performance of Richard Strauss’ Alpine Symphony.  Now, the collaboration continues as both orchestras take to the stage for Gustav Holst’s stellar journey through the cosmos.  Joined by ladies from Liverpool Welsh Choral, there will be up to 150 performers involved in the performance!

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

A concert for all young people under 30! As a child, Kyohei Sorita dreamed of playing with a large orchestra and being enveloped by sound. He has now fulfilled this dream many times over. In 2021, he was the discovery of the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw, where he played his way into the hearts of the audience. In 2023, he made a brilliant debut with the Munich Philharmonic with Rachmaninoff's 2nd Piano Concerto, and now he is returning to the Isarphilharmonie with the sister work. Completely detached from the earth: Gustav Holst penetrates the infinite expanses of space in his composition "The Planets". In each movement, he focuses on one of the planets of our solar system and illustrates the mythological properties of the celestial body with great orchestral effect. The Spanish conductor Gustav Gimeno leads the choir and orchestra of the Munich Philharmonic on this brilliant journey through the cosmos. Following the university concert, the evening continues with »MPHIL Late«. A surprise awaits the young audience in the foyer of the Isarphilharmonie, Hall E. Put your books and laptops away and off to the concert!

University Concert & For All Under 30

Gasteig HP8

There is no shortage of superlatives when it comes to Sergei Rachmaninoff's 3rd Piano Concerto. It is considered one of the most challenging works for pianists, "the concerto with the most notes per second." But the piece is not a superficial parade of virtuosity, because Rachmaninoff succeeds in filling the bravura display with deep "sentiment." After his brilliant debut with the Munich Philharmonic, where Kyohei Sorita caused a stir with Rachmaninoff's 2nd Piano Concerto, he now returns to the Isarphilharmonie with its sister work. In his brilliantly orchestrated "The Planets," Gustav Holst takes a sonic journey through the cosmos. Each of the seven planets of our solar system is dedicated to a movement that illustrates the mythological properties of the celestial body very effectively. It was not only contemporary audiences who regretted that Gustav Holst did not produce a follow-up to this monumental piece. And so “The Planets” became a classic one-hit wonder — with the Munich Philharmonic conducted by Gustavo Gimeno.

Rakhmaninov Holst

Join us for a special evening of music at Halifax Minster, featuring violinist Ofer Falk and students from North Halifax Grammar. The programme includes Vaughan Williams’ English Folk Song Suite, Elgar’s Serenade for Strings, Holst’s St Paul’s Suite, and The Lark Ascending (arranged Gerigk).

The Lark Ascending at Halifax Minster

Halifax Minster

Sheffield Symphony Orchestra Concert 5

All Saints Church Ecclesall

Lift off with the symphony as we explore the universe in all its celestial wonder. You’ll hear music inspired by planets, comets, moons, and stars accompanied by images from our galaxy and beyond. “Claire de Lune,” selections from Gustav Holst’s Planets and John Williams’s Star Wars Suite, and so much more will bring our season to a spectacular conclusion.

Celestial Sounds

Livermore-Amador Symphony

Celebrate the grand finale of SOGO’s 25th anniversary season with a spectacular concert! Join us as we embark on a musical journey with the Conservatory Orchestra performing Dvořák’s lively Polka for Prague Students, followed by the enchanting Andante and Rondo Ongarese by Carl Maria von Weber, featuring the virtuosity of senior clarinetist Diego Cortes-Monroy. The evening culminates in a celestial performance of Mars and Jupiter from Holst’s epic The Planets, presented in a thrilling side-by-side collaboration with members of the Olympia Symphony Orchestra. The Brass Choir and Academy and Philharmonic orchestras will also perform. This unforgettable concert promises to highlight the extraordinary talent of over 160 young musicians from across the South Sound region.

SOGO 25th Season Spring Concert

Washington Center for the Performing Arts

CYS will present its final season concert featuring both the Associate Orchestra and the Virtuosi and Intermezzi String Ensembles at 1:00 PM on May 18 at Smithwick Theater, Foothill College. Maestra Kati Kyme will conduct works by Gabriel Fauré, C.P.E. Bach, and Joseph Haydn with the Virtuosi String Ensemble. Haydn composed his Symphony No. 45 in 1768 during his “Sturm und Drang” (Storm and Stress) period, and it carries the subtitle “La Passione”. The Intermezzi Strings will perform works by Mozart and Schubert, as well as selections from Gustav Holst’s St. Paul Suite.

String Ensembles and Associate Orchestra

Foothill College

Everything old is new again. “Spring” and “Summer” from Vivaldi’s beloved Four Seasons bookend this program featuring violinist Amaryn Olmeda, a rising star. Stravinsky, Respighi, Coleridge-Taylor, and Holst all took a page from musical styles of the past.

Vivaldi Inspired

Sarasota Opera House

A global celebration of music inspired by cities, countries, and cultures, featuring Holst's Japanese Suite.

Music from Around the World

Baldwin Wallace University

The Temecula Valley Youth Symphony invites you all to join us for some wonderful Live Classical Music for our end of the session concert on May 12th, 2025 at Murrieta Springs Seventh-Day Adventist Church at 7:30pm. Our Concert will feature performances from all three of our ensembles, including our Debut Strings (for their Debut performance!) headed by Ms. Marie Luedtke , our Concert Orchestra conducted by Dr. Sylvia Lee Mann, and our Symphonic Orchestra conducted by Dr. Zun Hin-Woo. The Concert will include classical music favorite such as Bizet’s Carmen Overture, Themes from the Planets by Holst, and classic Handel Water Music! Hope to see you all soon. Thank you for your support of the Temecula Valley Youth Symphony!

TVYS Classical Music Concert

Murrieta Springs Seventh-day Adventist Church

traditions and powerful storytelling. The evening culminates in Stravinsky’s “The Firebird,” a fairytale ballet based on Russian folklore, featuring the remarkable young dancers of San Antonio Youth Ballet. Energetic dance compositions by Gustav Holst and American contemporary composer Kenji Bunch build to the excitement of the grand finale, along with a soloist performance by the talented 2024/25 YOSA Concerto Competition winner. YOSA Prelude Strings, the youngest YOSA musicians, will open this musical evening of dance and fantasy you won’t want to miss.

Firebird Dance

Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

### Event Description: The Planets - An HD Odyssey

**Event:** The Planets - An HD Odyssey  
**Presented by:** Symphony San Jose

**Dates and Times:**
- **Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.**
- **Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 2:30 p.m.**

**Venue:**  
California Theatre, San Jose, CA

**Concert Length:**  
Approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes, including an intermission.

**Pre-Concert Music Notes:**  
Occurs one hour prior to the concert in the auditorium.

**Artists:**
- **Conductor:** Tatsuya Shimono
- **Performers:** Symphony San Jose and Women of the Symphony San Jose Chorale

**Program:**
1. **Jessie Montgomery** - *Starburst*
2. **W.A. Mozart** - *Symphony No. 41 Jupiter*
3. **Gustav Holst** - *The Planets*

**About This Performance:**
Embark on the ultimate journey through our solar system with Symphony San Jose's breathtaking multimedia event. Experience Gustav Holst’s epic celestial masterpiece, *The Planets*, accompanied by awe-inspiring NASA images and footage projected onto a giant screen on stage. The concert begins with Jessie Montgomery’s vibrant *Starburst* and concludes with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s final symphony, *Jupiter*, a piece long celebrated as one of the greatest symphonies in classical music.

**Tickets:**
- **Purchase Tickets:** Available online
- **Subscription Options:** Subscribe and save

**Contact Information:**
- **Phone Number:** 408-286-2600
- **Ticket Office Hours:** Monday to Friday, 10am-5pm

Don’t miss this extraordinary event that combines the majesty of classical music with the wonder of space exploration. Secure your tickets now for an unforgettable experience!

The Planets An HD Odyssey

California Theatre

Those who frequent the KSO (indoors and out), know that all forms of jazz fit comfortably within the KSO’s wheelhouse. Stumbling upon intriguing jazz orchestrations of Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Dvorak, Gershwin, Holst, Suppe, Verdi, led James Cassidy to assemble an All-Star Big Band to end the 33rd season with a bang.

The concert opens with the jazz piano stylings of Eugen Cicero and his take on C.P.E. Bach’s Solfeggio in C minor. Consummate 1950s-60s arranger Billy May’s no-holds-barred approach to Hungarian Dance No. 5, Poet and Peasant Overture, Humoresque and others, paired with today’s big band guru Gordon Goodwin’s interpolations of the Two-part Invention in D minor, Symphony No. 40 in G minor and Rhapsody in Blue, and Jeremy Levy’s re-imagining of The Planets sets the stage for a veritable “hornucopia” of in your face classics à la jazz to close the KSO’s 33rd campaign.

Swingin’ the Classics

Greaves Concert Hall

Before Holst’s classic portrayal of the solar system, we will hear Manu Martin’s Cosmic Rhapsody, based on a narrative created by Susan Lim and Christina Teenz Tan. In the piece, the quest for solutions to Earth's environmental crisis intertwines with elements of suspense, drama, romance, intrigue, and scientific exploration. 

Holst, Gershwin and Martin with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Barbican Centre

The mystic, the magician and the messenger - a parade of heavenly bodies demonstrate their powers as conductor Robert Ziegler leads the Orchestra in an adventure through space and time with Holst’s mighty symphonic suite, The Planets. Beforehand, Manu Martin’s Cosmic Rhapsody inspires child-like wonder in nature and science, and pianist Jean Yves-Thibaudet plays Gershwin irresistible I Got Rhythm Variations.

Holst, Gershwin and Martin

This symphony concert features the winner of the Youth Concerto Competition along with performances of Overture No. 1 by Louise Farrenc and Gustav Holst's The Planets.

The Planets Symphony Concert

Neumann University

Playing in an orchestra - for many Cologne residents, this wish is fulfilled in the Cologne Citizens' Orchestra, which the Gürzenich Orchestra founded in the 2019/20 season. The initiative is a matter close to the heart of the musicians in the orchestra. More than 40 of them are working on the works with the participants and supporting them in their preparations for the joint concert in the Kölner Philharmonie.

Cologne Citizens' Orchestra

Immerse yourself in the cosmic wonders of Holst's "The Planets" with the Santa Rosa Symphony, under the baton of Music Director Francesco Lecce-Chong. This awe-inspiring performance will take place at the prestigious Weill Hall, Green Music Center, on May 3, 4, and 5, 2025. Each concert promises to deliver vivid depictions of the seven planets through Holst's masterful orchestration, complemented by the soulful beauty of George Gershwin's iconic piano concerto, featuring the astonishing Orion Weiss on piano.

The program includes Gabriela Ortiz's "Antrópolis for Orchestra," Gershwin's "Concerto in F major for Piano and Orchestra," and culminates with Holst's "The Planets for Orchestra, Opus 32." These performances are not just concerts but a journey through the solar system, brought to life by the talented musicians of the Santa Rosa Symphony.

Concert dates and times are as follows:
- Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 7:30 pm
- Sunday, May 4, 2025, at 3:00 pm
- Monday, May 5, 2025, at 7:30 pm

Additionally, a special Discovery Rehearsal is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 2:00 pm, offering a unique behind-the-scenes look at the preparation for the concerts.

Enhance your concert experience by joining Francesco Lecce-Chong for Concert Conversations, free to Classical Series concert ticket holders. These insightful discussions are scheduled approximately 30 minutes before each concert, providing fascinating insights into the music and composers.

Season subscriptions are currently on sale, with single tickets available starting July 29, 2024. Special ticket offers include complimentary youth tickets for ages 7-17 with every paid adult for Classical Series concerts, and $10 student rush tickets for college students with a valid ID.

Don't miss this celestial musical journey with the Santa Rosa Symphony. For more information and to secure your tickets, please visit the Santa Rosa Symphony's website or contact Patron Services.

Green Music Center

Hemmens Auditorium

Holst’s cosmic masterpiece — The Planets — offers an enchanting portrayal of Earth’s celestial neighbors. Listen as Holst draws on astrological traits and mythological nature to create seven unique scores that are both timeless and otherworldly — from the ominous, fierce, and remorseless Mars to the majestic and poignant beauty of Saturn — taking listeners on a musical journey through our solar system.

Holst The Planets

Denver Performing Arts Complex

Daniel Harding leads The Cleveland Orchestra from the Miami seaside to the farthest reaches of the solar system! Elgar’s sublime song cycle "Sea Pictures" provides open water for Avery Amereau to demonstrate her rich, velvety contralto. Later, Holst’s orchestral suite "The Planets" conjures a galaxy’s worth of emotions — from the bellicose dissonance of “Mars, the Bringer of War” to the electrifying “Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity.”

Holst’s The Planets

Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts

Snippets of folk like tunes weave together in Holst's kaleidoscopic Capriccio, and taking an equally central role in Stravinsky's Symphonies of Wind Instruments are the Russian folk elements and original meaning of 'symphony', that of sounding together. Short litanies between the different instruments draw together contrasting episodes at three different but still related speeds.

BBC NOW - Expressions of Folk

Brangwyn Hall

Snippets of folk-like tunes weave together in Holst’s kaleidoscopic Capriccio, and taking an equally central role in Stravinsky’s Symphonies of Wind Instruments are the Russian folk elements and original meaning of ‘symphony’, that of sounding together. Short litanies between the different instruments draw together contrasting episodes at three different but still related speeds.

Expressions of Folk

Wales Millennium Centre

The British composer Gustav Holst worked as a music teacher at St. Paul's Girls' School in London. In his soundproof study he composed, among other things, the famous " St. Paul's Suite " - peppered with beautiful melodies, inspired by popular English folk songs ("Greensleeves") and exuberant dances. He was repeatedly disturbed by an old castle ghost, which to this day hides between the notes of his music.

Student Concert: Juri Hunts the Musical Ghost

Kulturhaus Osterfeld

Join us for an extraordinary season finale with "The Planets" by the Spartanburg Philharmonic, a celestial celebration that promises to be out of this world. This special event is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at Twichell Auditorium, located at 580 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC, 29302, United States.

In partnership with Spartanburg County Public Libraries and in anticipation of their new planetarium opening in Spring 2025, the Philharmonic is thrilled to present a night that beautifully marries art and science. The evening will feature the world premiere of a commissioned piece by local composer-in-residence, Peter B. Kay, crafted specifically for this momentous occasion. To further enhance this celestial journey, the program will include Gustav Holst's timeless masterpiece, "The Planets," ensuring an enchanting musical exploration through the cosmos.

Conducted by John Young Shik Concklin, the program will also include Lili Boulanger's "D’un matin de printemps" and Peter B. Kay's "The Moons," promising a diverse and immersive auditory experience. This event not only marks a season finale like no other but also a unique blend of music that spans both time and space.

Single tickets will be on sale this summer, with an option to subscribe to the full season and save 10% off single ticket prices and service fees. Don't miss this unforgettable night of music that promises to be a memorable and celestial experience, celebrating both the art of music and the science of astronomy in perfect harmony.

Converse University

Symphony Nova Scotia chorus master Joel Tranquilla leads the NSYO in a performance that invites Soundtrax, Resonance Youth Choir, and Annapolis Valley Honour Choir to sing in this exciting orchestral presentation of glorious myths and legends.

NSYO: Myths & Legends

St. Andrew's United Church

Overture to Il Mondo Della Luna is a window into Joseph Haydn’s quirky vision of life on the moon written in the comic opera buffa genre. The charismatic duo Liana Bérubé and Ivo Bokulić will return to the stage for an elegant performance of W.A. Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra in Eb Major. We conclude with the timeless and evocative suite The Planets by Gustav Holst. His fascination with astrology helped him capture the essence of each planet. No matter what your sign or horoscope is, you are sure to love this magical work. 

Music of the Spheres

Arkley Center for the Performing Arts

For the Olympia Symphony's season finale, we are thrilled to present the world-renowned guitarist Petrit Çeku from Europe, performing the iconic Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo. Experience the mesmerizing beauty of this masterpiece as Çeku brings his exceptional talent to the stage. And prepare for a unique and exhilarating rendition of Holst's The Planets. This orchestral suite promises to transport you through cosmic realms with its majestic and evocative movements, presented in a way that will redefine your experience of this timeless work.

New Frontiers

Join us for an interstellar musical journey with the Owensboro Symphony's "Cosmic Worlds" concert, a highlight of the 2024-2025 Season. This celestial celebration is set to take place on April 19, 2025, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the RiverPark Center, located at 101 Daviess St, Owensboro, KY 42303.

Prepare for a cosmic adventure that will take you beyond the stars with John Williams' enchanting music from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and Franz Waxman's captivating A Place in the Sun Suite, featuring the legendary saxophonist Kenneth Radnofsky. The season finale will also include Gustav Holst's epic suite, The Planets, launching the Owensboro Symphony into an exhilarating 60th Season with a bang.

The evening will begin with an insightful "Behind the Music" talk at 6:15 p.m., offering a deeper understanding of the night's repertoire before the concert commences at 7:00 p.m.

This event is proudly sponsored by the Margaret Holbrook Estate, in partnership with our community. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a musical voyage that promises to be out of this world.

Season tickets are available for purchase now, and single tickets will go on sale on October 1, 2024. Secure your seat for a night filled with cosmic wonders and symphonic marvels.

Composer

Gustav Holst

Events

Upcoming events

Sep 21, 2025 - May 10, 2026

Chamber Concert / Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra · Elbphilharmonie

5 - 6 Dec, 2025

UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra · UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra

Dec 6, 2025

UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra · UC Berkeley Department of Music

Dec 7, 2025

An Amarcord Christmas · Caramoor

Dec 7, 2025

In the Bleak Midwinter · Alton Symphony Orchestra

Past events

26 - 27 Nov, 2025

The Night Sky · Sinfonia Smith Square

Nov 24, 2025

Dulwich College Winter Concert · Cadogan Hall

About

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