Strauss Also Sprach Zarathustra - Fritz Reiner Chicago Symphony (1962 Recording)
Richard Strauss completed Also sprach Zarathustra in 1896, drawing inspiration from Friedrich Nietzsche’s reflections on humanity, nature, knowledge, and spiritual transformation. From its magnificent sunrise to its enigmatic conclusion, the score travels through longing, passion, contemplation, recovery, and dance. Strauss binds these contrasting episodes through a persistent tonal struggle between nature and humanity, represented by the keys of C and B, leaving their conflict suspended in the quiet final measures.
Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra recorded this commanding interpretation at Orchestra Hall on April 30 and May 1, 1962. Compared with their more urgent and visceral 1954 recording, the 1962 performance is broader, more polished, and more contemplative, revealing the score through the accumulated understanding of an established partnership. Reiner combines structural clarity with immense but carefully controlled power, while the orchestra responds with brilliant brass, transparent strings, and expressive woodwinds. Produced by Richard Mohr and engineered by Lewis Layton, the recording captures the breadth and vivid presence of the Chicago Symphony near the conclusion of Reiner’s historic tenure as music director.
Artist(s): Conductor: Fritz Reiner
Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Recording Info: Recorded April 30 and May 1, 1962, at Orchestra Hall, Chicago.
Engineer - Lewis Layton
Producer - Richard Mohr
Sourced from an original pressing
Components used for Transfer:
This transfer leverages precision analog playback and mastering-grade digital conversion. The signal path begins with a VPI HW-40 Anniversary turntable paired with an Ortofon MC Anna cartridge, fed through a Merrill Audio Jens Phono pre-amp for accurate RIAA equalization. The analog signal converts via a Merging Anubis converter, powered by a Teddy Pardo Linear Power Supply, synchronized to an Antelope Audio 10MX atomic clock for temporal accuracy. All components receive isolated power conditioning through a Shunyata Research Everest 8000 with Sigma-X cords, while grounding infrastructure utilizes Shunyata ALTAIRA hubs to minimize noise floor and preserve sonic detail throughout the transfer chain.
2 Of The Inhabitants Of The Unseen World 3:45
3 Of The Great Longing 2:05
4 Of Joys And Passions 2:20
5 Dirge 1:56
6 Of Science 3:50
7 The Convalescent 5:23
8 Dance Song And Night Song 7:59
9 Night Wanderer’s Song 4:43
Please Note: This release was edited in DXD PCM from a DSD256 Master
then the DXD edited master was used to generate the final DSD files using
Merging Technologies Album Publishing.
DXD (352.8KHz 24/32 bit PCM) is one of the best and least destructive formats for post-processing DSD originated digital recordings
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