Richard Srauss – Also Sprach Zarathustr
Klaus Tennstedt/L
ondon Philharmonic
EMI Digital – CDC 7 49951 2: 1990
Author – Paul
Not a new recording, this 1990 release is still available new and is worth searching out. Many will recognise the music from the film “2001 – A Space Odyssey” with the opening “sunrise” movement in C major. The instantly recognisable climbing motif of C-G-C is the foundation for the piece as a whole.
This is a tone poem with no separate movements and the recording reviewed here has a superb dynamic range with notable sweeps from the quiet passages building up into the ear splitting crescendo’s that it’s noted for.
The opening is underpinned by a menacing and large scale organ note, with fabulous tympani interludes. It has real scale and the arrangement and conducting are superb, fluid and engaging.
Well worth a listen.
Recording: 9
Musical interest: 7
Arrangement: 8
Overall: 8
Recommended.
