Richard Strauss : Also Sprach Zarathustra / Previn, Vienna PO

Richard Strauss (Composer), André Previn (Conductor), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Gerhart Hetzel (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Gerhart Hetzel
• Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: André Previn
• Composer: Richard Strauss
• Audio CD (April 23, 2002)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B000003CUV
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,490 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #5 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( S ) > Strauss, Richard
  #12 in	Music > Classical > Featured Performers, A-Z > ( V ) > Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
  #19 in	Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music > Tone Poems

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding performances of the best Strauss tone poems., October 28, 2002

By	D. R. Schryer (Poquoson, VA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Also Sprach Zarathustra and Death and Transfiguration are, in my opinion, the most beautiful of Strauss' tone poems. Zarathustra is probably the best known of the Strauss tone poems because its opening bars were used in the movie 2001 a Space Odyssey. But there is much more to Zarathustra than its glorious opening bars; it is a masterpiece from beginning to end. Death and Transfiguration, the second work on this CD, is on a par with Zarathustra. This is an ideal coupling of the two most beautiful and magnificent Strauss tone poems. And Andre Previn and the great Vienna Philharmonic give them outstanding performances. I bought this CD at its original full price and feel that I got my money's worth. At its current bargain price this CD is an outstanding value.

16 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of R. Strauss', and Previn's, finest albums., May 18, 2005

By	Shota Hanai (Torrance, CA) - See all my reviews

This is one of Richard Strauss's, and Previn's, finest albums. The performances on two of the composer's most beloved works are overall good, and Telarc has done a marvelous job with its always superior sound quality.

The fanfare from Thus Spaka Zarathustr is probably the single most famous music by Strauss, ever since it became the intro for 2001 The Space Oddysey, and that segment alone is what I consider to be the highlight of the album. Brilliant brass, thunderous timpani (some other recordings of the timpani solo sounded more round and fat; this one is more sharp and full of intensity), and at the climax, the trumpets, as triumphant as they should be, really pierces the air.

It's worth a listen for any Richard Strauss fan.

P.S. - Strauss' Alpine Symphony under the same conductor, orchestra, and label, was a bit pale; you gotta get Karajan's performance on that piece.

2 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The one song is longer than most people think but I like it, October 28, 1999

By A Customer

The first two minutes of this song are what is at the beggining of Space Odeyessey 2001 but then there are 30 more minutes after that of other music. It very well portrays the whole feeling of the future. But I dont know what Also Sprach Zarathustra even means.