Gustavo Dudamel Gustavo Dudamel conducted Richard Strauss’s impressive work “Also sprach Zarathustra,” inextricably linked to Stanley Kubrick’s famous film “2001: A Space Odyssey.” In addition to this piece, he also conducted “Don Juan” and “Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks,” both of which played a key role in Strauss’s development as an outstanding orchestral composer.
The live recordings were made during the 2012/13 season, continuing the long-standing collaboration between Deutsche Grammophon and the Berlin Philharmonic. In 2013, they both celebrated an impressive century of partnership. Dudamel emphasized that conducting “Zarathustra” with the Berlin Philharmonic was both a great honor and a demanding task. This collaboration allowed him to realize a long-held dream. Inspired by Karajan's spirit, he delved into the philosophical dimensions of Strauss's music. For Dudamel, "Zarathustra" is emblematic of the human drive to have dreams and realize them—as an expression of a hopeful utopia. The release also marked the start of the celebrations for Richard Strauss's 150th birthday in 2014.
Dudamel's interpretation of "Zarathustra" symbolizes the human urge to have dreams and to realize them—as an expression of a hopeful utopia.