Also Sprach Zarathustra recommendations?

[relm1]

I was about to buy the new Dudamel/Berlin Philharmonic recording of Also Sprach Zarathustra but want to read a few reviews so I'll hold.  This work is so brilliant and full of imaginative ideas that have been extremely well represented on disc but I'm somewhat confused by the various versions from Herbert von Karajan.  My general question is - what is the though on these interpretations?  Is the Vienna Philharmonic/von Karajan the one that all others are compared to?  How do the various von Karajan compare to each other and is there one that blows the others away?

[TheGSMoeller]

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,20657.220.html

I was about to rec some to you, but remembered that the ones I like didn't fare well in our GMG Blind Comparison    Skim through these pages for good recs and comments.

[TheGSMoeller]

Ok, I'll post some of my recs...





These are my three fav, Kempe also has good one, Kempe actually has a good-everything from Strauss. I've only heard the 74 version from Karajan, which is nice, so I can't really compare them.

Side note: I still have yet to hear anything from Dudamel that I would spend money on.

[relm1]

Ok, I'll post some of my recs...





These are my three fav, Kempe also has good one, Kempe actually has a good-everything from Strauss. I've only heard the 74 version from Karajan, which is nice, so I can't really compare them.

Side note: I still have yet to hear anything from Dudamel that I would spend money on.

Thanks for the suggestions - will investigate.  Regarding Dudamel, this certainly sound good, no?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYK5Tptgm3k

[TheGSMoeller]

Thanks for the suggestions - will investigate.  Regarding Dudamel, this certainly sound good, no?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYK5Tptgm3k

nice promo! More planets, we need more planets in these Zarathustra promos!

But yeah, sounded good, I'd be interested to hear the rest, the LA Phil is a great orchestra so I would expect it to be quite good. Thanks for posting, relm! 

[relm1]

nice promo! More planets, we need more planets in these Zarathustra promos!

But yeah, sounded good, I'd be interested to hear the rest, the LA Phil is a great orchestra so I would expect it to be quite good. Thanks for posting, relm! 

Just a note, the recording is Dudamel with the Berlin Philharmonic (I think his debut with that orchestra) rather than LA Phil.  However, I did hear his performance of this work with LA Phil and was totally blown away, however it is always difficult to capture the essence of a vivid live performance on disc.

[Daverz]

Mehta/LAPO was the recording that helped me love the work.  I'd never gotten much past the opening before that.

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[TheGSMoeller]

Just a note, the recording is Dudamel with the Berlin Philharmonic (I think his debut with that orchestra) rather than LA Phil.  However, I did hear his performance of this work with LA Phil and was totally blown away, however it is always difficult to capture the essence of a vivid live performance on disc.

Ah, thank you for the correction, I think I noticed Berlin but am so used to associating Dudamel with LA Phil. 

[mc ukrneal]

Here's my favorite Zarathustra:
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[TheGSMoeller]

Here's my favorite Zarathustra:
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Another good one, Neal.

[The new erato]

Portsmouth Sinfonia has an interesting one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6piDRKOwh88

Like no other version of any Strauss piece, this one gets tears streaming down my face.

[Mandryka]

Karajan excelled in this I think. Another outstanding one is Koussevitsky/Boston Symphony Orchestra.

[TheGSMoeller]

Portsmouth Sinfonia has an interesting one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6piDRKOwh88

Like no other version of any Strauss piece, this one gets tears streaming down my face.

Powerful playing with incredible balance, but the interpretation left much to be desired.

Or how about, Strauss goes 12-tone.

[Mandryka]

Portsmouth Sinfonia has an interesting one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6piDRKOwh88

Like no other version of any Strauss piece, this one gets tears streaming down my face.

It reminds me of Gerald Moore (voice)/Victoria de los Angeles (piano), Schumann, Ich Grolle Nicht

http://www.youtube.com/v/yBOYl2DIYc8

[Karl Henning]

Here's my favorite Zarathustra:
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Another good one, Neal.

Interesting, thank you both.

[TheGSMoeller]

Another good one, Neal.


Interesting, thank you both.

Plus you get a solid Four Last Songs with Popp.

[mc ukrneal]

Plus you get a solid Four Last Songs with Popp.

One could make a good argument that this is the reason to get the disc. Although, all three pieces are very well done indeed.

[Daverz]

Resident Hurwitz haters take note, he's declared the Dude's recording a dud.

[trung224]

 My favorite is Karajan with VPO, Blomstedt with SFSO, and surprisingly Zinman with Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich.

[TheGSMoeller]

Resident Hurwitz haters take note, he's declared the Dude's recording a dud.

CD from Hell! 

I only consider recordings if they receive a 10/10 from Hurwitz, or get placed on the shelves in Hell. Anything that sparks an extreme reaction from him is worth a listen, good or bad.