Gustav Holst; Richard Strauss - The Planets; Also sprach Zarathustra (William Steinberg)

Information

Composer: Gustav Holst; Richard Strauss

• (01-09) Strauss - Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30
• (10-16) Holst - The Planets, Op. 32

Boston Symphony Orchestra
William Steinberg, conductor

Date: 1970 (10-16), 1971 (1-9)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/cat/4636272

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Review

William Steinberg's Zarathustra always has been a personal favorite. Deutsche Grammophon never gave it much support because of excellent versions by Böhm and Karajan already in its catalog, but the Boston Symphony frankly outplays its Berlin counterpart, particularly in the brass and percussion departments, and Steinberg's Dionysian assault on the score never has been surpassed. He whips up the Dance Song in the second half to a truly Nietzschean frenzy. Every performance sounds a bit tame after this, and unlike so many other versions, he never gives the impression that it's all down hill after the famous opening. If you love this work, than you simply must hear this recording.

As to The Planets, Steinberg's reading has rightly become a classic. His fast tempos and thrilling rhythmic grip approach the composer's own, but of course they make a much greater impact than Holst's thanks to stereo sound. "Mars", in particular, has both menace and real physical excitement, while once again the playing of the Boston Symphony combines poetry and polish with tremendous virtuosity. Sonically these performances always have sounded a bit bright on top and light in the bass, and the remastering hasn't changed that. Still, you won't find more powerful, pulse-pounding performances of either work anywhere, and having them together on a single CD offers excellent value. Now why not release Steinberg's equally excellent BSO Hindemith Mathis der Maler and Concert Music for Strings and Brass? [3/30/2001]

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

More reviews:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2012/May12/Strauss_Holst_UNI016.htm
https://www.amazon.com/Planets-Strauss-Also-Sprach-Zarathustra/dp/B000056TKD

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gustav Holst (21 September 1874 – 25 May 1934) was an English composer, arranger and teacher. Best known for his orchestral suite The Planets, he composed a large number of other works across a range of genres, although none achieved comparable success. Apart from The Planets and a handful of other works, his music was generally neglected until the 1980s, since when recordings of much of his output have been available. His distinctive compositional style was the product of many influences, including Richard Wagner, Richard Strauss, English folk songs and modern composers such as Maurice Ravel.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Holst

***

Richard Strauss (11 June 1864 – 8 September 1949) was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is known for his operas, lieder, tone poems and other orchestral works. Strauss was also a prominent conductor throughout Germany and Austria, enjoying quasi-celebrity status as his compositions became standards of orchestral and operatic repertoire. Strauss made a large number of recordings, both of his own music as well as music by German and Austrian composers. Along with Gustav Mahler, Strauss represents the late flowering of German Romanticism after Richard Wagner.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Strauss

***

William Steinberg (Cologne, August 1, 1899 – New York City, May 16, 1978) was a German-American conductor. Steinberg is best known for his tenure as music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra from 1952 to 1976. From 1969 to 1972 he was music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Steinberg also guest-conducted most of the major US orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, and Philadelphia Orchestra. He was a champion of certain lesser known works, and had a wide range of repertoire, including a sympathy for the English music.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Steinberg

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

FLAC, tracks

Links in comment

Enjoy!