Also Sprach Zarathustra

Started by MDL, January 01, 2009, 06:01:00 AM

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MDL

So Radio 3's Building a Library recommended Karajan's BPO recording from the 1970s. Fair enough. I've got the Galleria CD from the 1980s but always thought that the sound was a bit thin and shrill. Has anyone compared it to the DG Originals reissue? Has the sound been improved enough to warrant replacing my old CD? And unless I missed it, there was no mention of Karajan's digital remake, also with the BPO. Why is that? Because it's currently unavailable or because it's a bit crap?

Happy New Year, everyone, by the way.

Renfield

#1
Hmm...

Well, I've only heard the 1970's version in the DG Originals issue, and the sound is great.

(I generally find DG Originals excellent, in the sonic department.)

But the digital version is excellent, I think. Maybe not quite as good as the analog one in some parts (very noticeable in the introduction), but overall, they're very close. If pressed, I might even choose the 1980's version as my favourite. :)


Edit: Note that very many people automatically seem to "trash" most of Karajan's digital recordings due to the recorded sound being harsh more often than not. But I personally find this very unfair to what are mostly quite excellent performances indeed.

imperfection

Quote from: Renfield on January 01, 2009, 07:27:37 AM
Hmm...

Well, I've only heard the 1970's version in the DG Originals issue, and the sound is great.

(I generally find DG Originals excellent, in the sonic department.)

But the digital version is excellent, I think. Maybe not quite as good as the analog one in some parts (very noticeable in the introduction), but overall, they're very close. If pressed, I might even choose the 1980's version as my favourite. :)


Edit: Note that very many people automatically seem to "trash" most of Karajan's digital recordings due to the recorded sound being harsh more often than not. But I personally find this very unfair to what are mostly quite excellent performances indeed.

Do not get the Karajan Gold version. It is extremely harsh to the point of shrillness and it physically irritates me to hear this orchestrally massive piece recorded like it was meant to break eardrums. The dynamic range is huge, individual instruments are clear, but the sheer harshness disqualifies it from being an ideal ASZ.

The 1974 (or even the famous 1959 Decca, the one used in Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey) is a totally different story. Of course, all these are great performances, just some are better recordings than others.

Renfield

Quote from: imperfection on January 02, 2009, 12:40:01 PM
Do not get the Karajan Gold version. It is extremely harsh to the point of shrillness and it physically irritates me to hear this orchestrally massive piece recorded like it was meant to break eardrums. The dynamic range is huge, individual instruments are clear, but the sheer harshness disqualifies it from being an ideal ASZ.

See what I meant about the sound? ;)

Quote from: imperfection on January 02, 2009, 12:40:01 PMThe 1974 (or even the famous 1959 Decca, the one used in Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey) is a totally different story. Of course, all these are great performances, just some are better recordings than others.

Indeed, all of them are great performances. As is the Reiner with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, on RCA!

MDL

Quote from: Renfield on January 02, 2009, 01:36:04 PM
See what I meant about the sound? ;)

Indeed, all of them are great performances. As is the Reiner with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, on RCA!

The Reiner was a runner-up in the Building a Library review. I really liked the snippets that were played and thought that the sound was pretty amazing given how old the recording is.

val

My favorite version is Karajan with the VPO, recorded in 1959. It is much more intense and dynamic than the version he recorded with the BPO.

After Karajan, my choice would be Reiner with Chicago. The sound is good, the sense of the detail even better than Karajan, but Reiner seems more artificial.

Daverz

I'm very fond of the Mehta/LAPO recording.  It was this Lp that helped me learn to love the whole work, which is still my favorite Strauss.  It's now in a cheap Decca box of Strauss orchestral works.

The Böhm is also excellent.

MISHUGINA

William Steinberg/Boston Symphony Orchestra is good also.

Dundonnell

#8
Oh good!

The two versions I have are the 1974 Karajan/BPO and the Reiner/Chicago SO :)

The Reiner is on LP and I haven't listened to it in years but I seem to remember that the organ is out of tune?

Added: yes, I was, apparently correct-

http://www.amazon.com/Richard-Strauss-sprach-Zarathustra-Heldenleben/dp/B000003FE9

david johnson

out of tune in the '54 recording, not in the '60's one.
i prefer my reiner & the ormandy/philly digital lp.
you all have inspired me to relisten to the hvk offerings.

dj

Dundonnell

But the 1954 recording is generally considered preferable to the later 1960 recording is it not?

Renfield

Quote from: Dundonnell on January 06, 2009, 02:56:57 PM
But the 1954 recording is generally considered preferable to the later 1960 recording is it not?

As far as I'm concerned, yes. :)

For one, I don't even remember the 1960 one, even though I'm rather certain I've sampled it before choosing between them.

david johnson

Quote from: Dundonnell on January 06, 2009, 02:56:57 PM
But the 1954 recording is generally considered preferable to the later 1960 recording is it not?

yes.

MDL

Anybody heard Kempe's Dresden recording? I was listening to Building a Library over headphones and during the snippet of Kempe's performance that was sampled, I was disconcerted by how prominent the harps were in a tutti section.

J.Z. Herrenberg

Quote from: MDL on January 07, 2009, 01:34:35 AM
Anybody heard Kempe's Dresden recording? I was listening to Building a Library over headphones and during the snippet of Kempe's performance that was sampled, I was disconcerted by how prominent the harps were in a tutti section.

The Kempe I know very well, it really made me love the work. I can't compare, though. But this thread has been very instructive in that respect...
Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything. -- Plato

ChamberNut

Quote from: MDL on January 07, 2009, 01:34:35 AM
Anybody heard Kempe's Dresden recording? I was listening to Building a Library over headphones and during the snippet of Kempe's performance that was sampled, I was disconcerted by how prominent the harps were in a tutti section.

Yes, and love it!  The Kempe/Dresden is the only recording I have.  I love that entire box set of Strauss orchestral works, it was my "2008 Purchase of the Year".  :)

MDL

Quote from: ChamberNut on January 07, 2009, 03:59:24 AM
Yes, and love it!  The Kempe/Dresden is the only recording I have.  I love that entire box set of Strauss orchestral works, it was my "2008 Purchase of the Year".  :)

I've been toying around with the idea of buying the Kempe set for a while now. Might have to take the plunge when January's pay comes in to land.

Superhorn

   Another superb Zarathustra by Karajan is the Decca version with the Vienna Philharmonic, with Willi Boskovsky playing the violin solo. I believe this dates from around 1959-60. I had it many years ago on LP on the Decca STS series.
  This performance is predictably gorgeously played by the VPO and has a spine-tingling panache. I believe this may have been reissued recently on a set of Karajan/VPO recordings on Decca, and recommend it highly.

ChamberNut

Quote from: MDL on January 07, 2009, 04:29:28 AM
I've been toying around with the idea of buying the Kempe set for a while now. Might have to take the plunge when January's pay comes in to land.

Go for it!   :)  Some incredible performances, particularly Eine Alpensinfonie, Don Quixote, Death & Transfiguration....etc...etc...etc.