Holst Planets: Saturn

This is our next installment of our Planets journey! We finish up our in-depth look at Jupiter and continue with Saturn, Bringer of Old Age. Unlike the previous movements, Saturn flows throughout contrasting moods: hollowness, despair, acceptance, serenity, etc., making this movement a fantastic study on musical storytelling techniques. Special guest Anthony Parnther presents his unique insights on the movement. Later, Anthony is interviewed by ASA President Reuven Herman.

About Anthony Parnther

Anthony Parnther has led orchestras throughout the United States, Korea, China, Australia, and across Europe and South America. He is in demand as a conductor for Hollywood scoring sessions for motion pictures, television shows, albums, trailers, commercials, and video game music consumed worldwide. His versatility as a conductor has landed him in collaboration with legendary artists in all genres. He has had the privilege of working closely with a growing list of iconic talent including Joshua Bell, Frederica von Stade, RZA, Wu Tang Clan, the Canadian Brass, Doc Severensen, Maynard Ferguson, Kanye West, Arturo Sandoval, Beyonce, Edgar Meyer, Jon Faddis, Wes Borland, Imagine Dragons, and Rihanna.

In 2010, he was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Southeast Symphony in Los Angeles, California. In addition, he is Music Director of Wind Orchestra of the West and Principal Guest Conductor of the Salem Symphony in Salem, Oregon. At the invitation of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, Maestro Parnther has been engaged as Guest Cover Conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and Assistant Conductor to Maestro Thomas Wilkins for the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

In 2013, Anthony conducted his first World Championship concert for Riot Games, developer of the massively popular online game, League of Legends. Since his initial conducting engagement at a full capacity Staples Center in Los Angeles, he has led concerts for League of Legends at mega-venues such as the Palau St. Jordi in Barcelona, Spain, and the World Cup Stadium in Seoul, South Korea.

Anthony Parnther is also an accomplished bassoonist and contrabassoonist in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California, hailed by the Huffington Post as “the ultimate in tonal purity” and praised by the L.A. Times for his “effortless phrasing”. An active session musician for many motion pictures, television shows, and video games, Anthony has worked on Hollywood’s scoring stage with leading media composers including Bruce Broughton, Joseph Bishara, Mychael & Jeff Danna, Danny Elfman, Michael Giacchino, John Ottman, Theodore Shapiro, Alan Silvestri, Bear McCreary, David Newman, Jeff Russo, Austin Wintory, Christopher Young, Hans Zimmer, and Inon Zur.

You can hear his bassoon and contrabassoon on recent motion pictures like Star Wars: Rogue One, The Good Dinosaur, Goosebumps, Moana, The Storks, X-Men: Apocalypse, The Conjuring 2, Star Trek Beyond, Ghostbusters, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Marvel’s Luke Cage, League of Legends, Wildstar, Spiderman, Planet of the Apes and the Varese Sarabande Symphony Orchestra album 1985 at the Movies.