Opening with its famous “Sunrise” fanfare, there is no mistaking Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra. A bold, intrepid tone poem, famously used by Stanley Kubrick in 2001: A Space Odyssey, it explores mankind’s place in the universe, diving headfirst into themes of religion, science, and individuality. François-Xavier Roth’s interpretation of Debussy’s Jeux completes the album. The kaleidoscopic score begins in a darkened stillness, developing fluidly with flashes of light and playful, chromatic motifs that perfectly depict the “games”—firstly childish, later amorous—of the ballet’s characters.
Strauss & Debussy: London Symphony Orchestra, François-Xavier Roth
