[Nil[_2_]]

On 11 May 2021, MiNe109 wrote in
rec.audio.pro:

The version on the MGM soundtrack album, Karl Bohm/Berlin, wasn't
used in the movie. Alex North's rejected soundtrack has also been
recorded.

Interesting, I did not know that! I've seen the film many times, and
I've had the soundtrack LP since it came out. I never noticed that they
are different recordings. I've listened to the soundtrack LP the most,
and that's how it's supposed to sound to me. The biggest goose-bump
moment for me is the bit of pipe organ that pops out at the very end.
The Bohm/Berlin LP version holds the chord longer and is brighter and
has a beautiful shimmering quality. The Karajan/Vienna film version
organ is a bit less prominent. I also listened to the Reiner/Chicago
version mentioned above. I don't like it nearly as much! It's too
brassy, and the strings are too subdued. Also the organ is quite flat
compared to the orchestra.

[[email protected]]

On Wed, 12 May 2021 15:10:05 -0400, Nil wrote:

On 11 May 2021, MiNe109 wrote in
rec.audio.pro:

The version on the MGM soundtrack album, Karl Bohm/Berlin, wasn't
used in the movie. Alex North's rejected soundtrack has also been
recorded.

Interesting, I did not know that! I've seen the film many times, and
I've had the soundtrack LP since it came out. I never noticed that they
are different recordings. I've listened to the soundtrack LP the most,
and that's how it's supposed to sound to me. The biggest goose-bump
moment for me is the bit of pipe organ that pops out at the very end.
The Bohm/Berlin LP version holds the chord longer and is brighter and
has a beautiful shimmering quality. The Karajan/Vienna film version
organ is a bit less prominent. I also listened to the Reiner/Chicago
version mentioned above. I don't like it nearly as much! It's too
brassy, and the strings are too subdued. Also the organ is quite flat
compared to the orchestra.

Consensus seems to be there are 4 or 5 excellent recordings.Here's a good discussion.
There are 5 pages to click.

https://www.talkclassical.com/65666-...ecordings.html

[Nil[_2_]]

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

On Wed, 12 May 2021 15:10:05 -0400, Nil
wrote:

On 11 May 2021, MiNe109 wrote in
rec.audio.pro:

The version on the MGM soundtrack album, Karl Bohm/Berlin,
wasn't used in the movie. Alex North's rejected soundtrack has
also been recorded.

Interesting, I did not know that! I've seen the film many times,
and I've had the soundtrack LP since it came out. I never noticed
that they are different recordings. I've listened to the
soundtrack LP the most, and that's how it's supposed to sound to
me. The biggest goose-bump moment for me is the bit of pipe organ
that pops out at the very end. The Bohm/Berlin LP version holds
the chord longer and is brighter and has a beautiful shimmering
quality. The Karajan/Vienna film version organ is a bit less
prominent. I also listened to the Reiner/Chicago version mentioned
above. I don't like it nearly as much! It's too brassy, and the
strings are too subdued. Also the organ is quite flat compared to
the orchestra.

Consensus seems to be there are 4 or 5 excellent recordings.Here's
a good discussion. There are 5 pages to click.

https://www.talkclassical.com/65666-...ecordings.html

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.

[John Hardy]

On 5/12/2021 7:31 PM, Nil wrote:
On 12 May 2021, wrote in rec.audio.pro:

On Wed, 12 May 2021 15:10:05 -0400, Nil
wrote:

On 11 May 2021, MiNe109 wrote in
rec.audio.pro:

The version on the MGM soundtrack album, Karl Bohm/Berlin,
wasn't used in the movie. Alex North's rejected soundtrack has
also been recorded.

Interesting, I did not know that! I've seen the film many times,
and I've had the soundtrack LP since it came out. I never noticed
that they are different recordings. I've listened to the
soundtrack LP the most, and that's how it's supposed to sound to
me. The biggest goose-bump moment for me is the bit of pipe organ
that pops out at the very end. The Bohm/Berlin LP version holds
the chord longer and is brighter and has a beautiful shimmering
quality. The Karajan/Vienna film version organ is a bit less
prominent. I also listened to the Reiner/Chicago version mentioned
above. I don't like it nearly as much! It's too brassy, and the
strings are too subdued. Also the organ is quite flat compared to
the orchestra.

Consensus seems to be there are 4 or 5 excellent recordings.Here's
a good discussion. There are 5 pages to click.

https://www.talkclassical.com/65666-...ecordings.html

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

[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.

[geoff]

On 13/05/2021 7:41 pm, Nil wrote:
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.


Still love the movie, especially as some of the themes become
increasingly credible !

Talking about LOUD and woofers - when I first got the Telarc 1812 LP I
thought somebody had dropped a chisel on the grooves ;- )

geoff