Search - R. Strauss, Janis, Reiner :: Also Sprach Zarathustra / Der Rosenklavier: Waltz

Great 1962 remake of 1954 Also Sprach!

04/26/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Reiner's 1962 remake of his legendary 1954 pioneering stereo recording of Richard Strauss' "Also sprach Zarathustra," took advantage of experience gained by the RCA recording team in the intervening years. Although the performance is extremely polished, I feel that the spontaneity evident in the 1954 recording is not present here. Possibly the lack of spontaneity may be due to Reiner's declining health at the time of the recording; he died the following year, and during the sessions, he may have been unable to fully convey to his musicians exactly what he wanted. The 1962 recording used six microphones as opposed to two or three in 1954, and as a consequence, sounds more closely miked.Byron Janis contributes a spirited and technically-finished performance of the Strauss "Burleske for Piano and Orchestra." The CD finishes with Reiner's masterly arrangement of Strauss' Waltzes from "Der Rosenkavalier." Sound on this CD is excellent in the typical RCA Living Stereo manner."