Â鶹Éç

In 1918, the 44-year-old Gustav Holst was deeply frustrated. His poor eyesight and health meant that he had been repeatedly refused for military service; he was stuck at home throughout the Great War.

But as the Director of Music at St Paul’s Girls School, Holst had the luxury of a soundproofed workroom in the newly built music wing. It was here that he had begun writing The Planets in the summer of 1914. He completed the work during the war years, but the enormous orchestral forces it demanded made it seemingly impossible to perform, especially in wartime.

But in summer 1918, Holst got word that he was finally to do his bit for the war effort – organising concerts for the troops in Thessalonika. A wealthy friend gave him an extraordinary leaving present: a private performance of The Planets, in front of just a few friends at the Queen’s Hall. Holst set off for Greece shortly afterwards. By the time he got there, the war was over.

This is one of 100 significant musical moments explored by Â鶹Éç Radio 3’s Essential Classics as part of Our Classical Century, a Â鶹Éç season celebrating a momentous 100 years in music from 1918 to 2018. Visit bbc.co.uk/ourclassicalcentury to watch and listen to all programmes in the season.

This recording from the Â鶹Éç archive is by the Â鶹Éç Symphony Orchestra with conductor Sakari Oramo and the National Youth Choir of Great Britain.

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