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August 9, 2012
Also Sprach Zarathustra
Scientists tell us life on earth evolved from a murky, primordial stew. Oxygen and hydrogen from the early atmosphere, iron and calcium from the bellies of exploding stars, a dusting of carbon from wayward meteors. At the dawn of the 20th century, Richard Strauss wrote an extravagant piece of music depicting the evolution of humanity, beginning in that murky darkness. We know "Also Sprach Zarathustra" for its 90-second opening. Today, we'll hear the entire half-hour-long tone poem, from a concert in London.
Today's Playlist
Performance Today audio is available for seven days following broadcast.
hour 1
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Richard Strauss
Potpourri from Die Schweigsame Frau (The Silent Woman)
The Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, Karl Anton Rickenbacher, conductor
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Improvisation
Tarantella Italiana
L'Arpeggiata, Christina Pluhar, theorbo and director
The BBC Proms, London, England
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Orlando Gibbons
The Cries of London
The Rose Consort, Tenebrae, Nigel Short, conductor
The BBC Proms, London, England
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Richard Strauss
September, from Four Last Songs, TrV 296
Anne Schwanewilms, soprano, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Juanjo Mena, conductor
The BBC Proms, London, England
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Richard Strauss
Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30, TrV 176
The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Juanjo Mena, conductor
The BBC Proms, London, England
hour 2
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Rondo from Violin Sonata No. 1, Op. 12
Jorja Fleezanis, violin, Cyril Huve, pianoforte
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Zequinha de Abreu
Nao me Toques (Don't Touch Me)
Mike Marshall and Caterina Lichtenberg, mandolins
Herbst Theatre, San Francisco
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Traditional Swedish (Arranged by the Kronos Quartet)
Tusen Tankar (A Thousand Thoughts)
The Kronos Quartet
The BBC Proms, London, England
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Frederic Chopin
Etude No. 6 in G-sharp Minor and Etude No. 12 in C Minor, from Twelve Etudes, Op. 25
Lang Lang, piano
Carnegie Hall, New York City
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67
The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim, conductor
The BBC Proms, London, England
