North Carolina Symphony

The evening's focal point was Gustav Holst's The Planets, his hugely popular suite of seven portraits of these celestial bodies' astrological characteristics. It takes an experienced, confident hand to tackle such a wide range of rhythmic shifts, dynamic changes and mood variations. Litton not only confirmed that the piece held no obstacles for him, but also projected an eager joy in pointing up all the wonderful effects and surprises Holst scattered throughout the work.