A taste for the exotic
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Holst: 15 facts about the great composer
9. A taste for the exotic
Holst was often inspired by literature. He made settings of poetry by Hardy and Whitman. He also took a keen interest in ancient sacred Sanskrit texts, particularly the Rig Veda hymns. His settings of translations included Sita, a three-act opera based on an episode in the Ramayana, and Savitri - pictured - a chamber opera based on a tale from the Mahabharata.
