ProStudioMasters.com

"... the organ of St. Paul's Cathedral is notoriously difficult to record, so hats off to Paul Crichton for effectively taming the beast in Simon Johnson's spectacular ... Johnson has impressive technique, colouring and characterization." - Gramophone "The cavernous acoustics of St. Paul's Cathedral provide a perfect arena for Simon Johnson's barnstorming performance ... there is beauty and brawn aplenty here in Johnson's now subtle, now stirring accounts. The disc benefits from Priory's characteristically well framed sound and informative notes." - Choir & Organ "Four Stars ... Peter Sykes's organ arrangement, rather like Holst's two piano version, effectively highlights the work's dissonant harmonies ... Mars sounds exceptionally ferocious. Almost as impressive are Saturn, its climax even more inexorable than the orchestral original ... and Uranus, sounding especially sinister ..." - BBC Music Magazine This album ranks among the most staggering organ recordings ever made: captured amid the vast acoustics of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, Simon Johnson presents Peter Sykes's brilliant arrangement of Holst's incredible score. The organ is of course a willing partner and the notorious acoustic, so often the cause of debate in relation to musical performances, seems to help project the scale and metaphysical properties of Holst’s original conception in a positive and dramatic way.