An episode from the Mahabharata
Words and music by Gustav Holst
Speaker, Jill Balcon
The Cantata Singers
The Jacques Orchestra
(Leader, Irene Richards)
Conductor, John Pritchard

In her talk on her father's operas broadcast a few weeks ago Imogen Holst described Savitri as 'a miracle of economy.' There are only three characters; the orchestra is made up of two string quartets, a double-bass, two flutes, and a cor anglais; and the hidden chorus consists of women's voices singing throughout to the sound of 'u' as in 'sun.' The opera, which is in one act, was written in 1908 when Hoist was thirty-four. For some years he had been studying Sanskrit, and the libretto, written by himself, was founded on an Indian legend. It tells how Death, coming to claim Satyavan, is welcomed by Savitri; and when her plea for life in its fullness is granted she makes it clear that it would be impossible for her without Satyavan. Death realises that he has been defeated and walks away into the forest. For even Death is an illusion.' (Harold Rutland)