Nothing prepared the listener for the visceral power of the brass and the hammer blows of two sets of timpani and bass drum in “Mars, the Bringer of War,” the first movement of Gustav Holst’s “The Planets.” The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s electrifying performance led by guest conductor Giancarlo Guerrero on Friday illustrated why this orchestral suite remains a top draw for audiences more than 100 years after it was written.
One of the largest crowds of the season was in Music Hall…
