[Nil[_2_]]

On 12 May 2021, John Hardy wrote in
rec.audio.pro:

On 5/12/2021 7:31 PM, Nil wrote:

Thanks for that - interesting discussion by people who would know
better than I. Nobody mentions the Bohm/Berlin version as a
favorite, but it's the one I've heard the most so it sounds most
right to me. The Karajan/Vienna film version is similar and also
excellent, but the pipe organ bits don't have the same impact for
me.

I vote for the Bohm/Berlin version from 1958, available in a
variety of collections. (Beware the CBS Records version, there is
a ton of subsonic stuff that will make your woofers come
unhinged).

When 2001 A Space Odyssey was released in 1968, I did not go to
see it. But I did buy the official LP soundtrack, which included
the Bohm/Berlin version of Zarathustra. I played Zarathustra often
and LOUD. It was very exhilarating. It wasn't until years later
that I saw the movie and heard the Karajan version. Frankly, I was
disappointed in the Karajan version. It seemed to be missing the
intensity and tension and emotion of the epic battle that the
piece supposedly represents. The Bohm/Berlin version, in my humble
opinion, nailed it.

I have no idea how the piece was intended to be played by Strauss,
but I love the Bohm/Berlin version, played LOUD. REALLY LOUD. On
my long list of things to do that I will likely never get to, is
to remaster the movie with the Bohm/Berlin version in place of the
Karajan version.

But I am no expert on classical music. Just one guy's opinion.

John Hardy

I did see 2001 when it first came out, several times, including three
times in Cinerama. I was nuts about that movie. To see the dramatic
opening and closing scenes on a fresh print on a huge, wraparound
Cinerama screen, and yes, it was LOUD LOUD LOUD... the experience
impressed me for life. The Von Karajan version was completely up to the
task in that environment.