This box set combines two much loved British classics: Elgar's seminal Enigma Variations and Holst's orchestral masterpiece The Planets. In an acclaimed BBC drama-documentary filmed in the rolling Malvern Hills, Sir Andrew Davis unravels the mystery of the famous musical puzzle contained in Elgar's work, followed by a landmark performance of the complete score by the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis given in the cathedral in Elgar's home town of Worcester.

The lavish visualisation of Gustav Holst's orchestral masterpiece The Planets and Colin Matthews's additional movement Pluto, the Renewer features spectacular images which enhance the symbolic meaning attributed to each planet by the composer. Directed by Rhodri Huw, this memorable audiovisual experience blends images filmed in many locations around the world, computer graphics, animatronics and a splendidly atmospheric performance by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

‘Andrew Davis presents the documentary in an engaging style, giving an overview of the variations, as well as homing in on several of them.’ - BBC Music (Elgar)

‘With the BBC NOW musicians playing as if these were their own lives on the line, the passion and commitment was total... it could hardly have been more alive and compelling.’ - The Guardian (Holst)

Aspect ratio: 16:9
Subtitles: EN/FR/DE/ES/IT (Elgar documentary)
Sound format: LPCM stereo (Holst); LPCM stereo, DTS Surround (Elgar)
Running time: 59 minutes (Holst); 85 minutes (Elgar)