Mimi Ezust wrote: >Would someone tell me about this work, please. How long is it? What are >some good recordings? Is it scored for full orchestra? What does it sound >like? If it is on a cd with other pieces, what are they? I can't tell you much about it. Not near my CDs, I don't know how long it is. Holst wrote it as a tribute to Hardy. Holst admired Tess of the d'Urbervilles immensely. I believe he started it before Hardy's death and finished it after. Definitely one of Holst's best. It's scored for large orchestra. It broods. Boult made a good recording, no longer available. Your current choice seems to be between Andrew Davis and Andre Previn. I haven't heard the Davis, but I'd go with the Previn, particularly since it's coupled with Boult's best recording of The Planets (the second-to-last, on EMI). Steve Schwartz