Simon Rattle

"Follows a conductor who is auditioning each instrument for his orchestra, building to a performance of two pieces of classical music. With links to downloadable music, ... pictograms of a full-size symphony orchestra, and information on all of the instruments and music featured"--

Few composers have achieved such success with a single work as Holst with The Planets. Each movement expresses the planet's supposed astrological character, and the colorful orchestration and memorable melodies ensured its immediate and ongoing popularity. It's hard to believe now that it was a groundbreaking work, a huge multi-movement piece that finally fades into ethereal silence as wordless voices disappear into outer space.