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Also Sprach Zarathustra: Strauss’s New Dawn

Tom Service explores the cosmic tone poem Also Sprach Zarathustra, composed by Richard Strauss, inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche, and made famous (partly) by Stanley Kubrick.

Made famous by Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, the tone poem Also Sprach Zarathustra which was composed by a young Richard Strauss in 1896 is much more than just two minutes of cosmic fanfare. Based on Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophical novel inspired by the ancient Iranian prophet Zoroaster, its nine sections explore everything from passion, science, joy and death, to learning, convalescing, dancing and night wandering…

But as a new year dawns how do the drama, power and epic sound worlds of Also Sprach Zarathustra ask and answer the fundamental questions of the universe and our place in it? Tom is joined by our witness philosopher Katrina Mitcheson to find out.

Producer: Ruth Thomson

Available now

29 minutes

Last on

Fri 6 Jan 2023 16:30
BBC Radio 3

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David Lang: The Little Match Girl Passion

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Music Played

  • Richard Strauss

    Also sprach Zarathustra Op.30 [1895-6]

    Performer: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andris Nelsons.
    • ORFEO.
    • C878141A.

  • Richard Strauss

    Don Juan Op.20

    Performer: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andris Nelsons.
    • ORFEO.
    • C878141A.

  • Richard Strauss

    Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche Op.28

    Performer: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andris Nelsons.
    • ORFEO.
    • C878141A.

  • Friedrich Nietzsche

    So lach doch mal

    Performer: Jeroen van Veen.
    • BRILLIANT CLASSICS.
    • 95492.

  • Richard Strauss

    Also sprach Zarathustra Op.30 [1895-6]

    Performer: Portsmouth Sinfonia.
    • Transatlantic Records.
    • TRA 275.

  • Richard Strauss

    Also sprach Zarathustra Op.30 [1895-6]

    Performer: Elvis Presley.
    • RCA.
    • SPCD 1092.

  • Richard Strauss

    Also sprach Zarathustra Op.30 [1895-6]

    Performer: Eumir Deodato.
    • CTI RECORDS.
    • 30018.

Broadcasts

  • New Year's Day 2023 17:00
    BBC Radio 3
  • Fri 6 Jan 2023 16:30
    BBC Radio 3

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