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The first thing to say is that, like the Decca Legends redbook CD, this disc also contains Don Juan, and includes it on the cover – so the playing time comes in at a generous 75 mins. The famous recording of Also Sprach Zarathustra dates from 1959, the remainder of the program from 1960, all recorded in the Sofiensaal.

Pretty spectacular they sound for their age, though the opening sunrise – which was used, uncredited, for the Kubrick film ‘2001’ – can’t quite compare in impact with Karajan’s wonderful 1974 DG recording (which in its current Originals incarnation exactly replicates this disc’s program).

But there are many compensations – for one, the remaining 35 minutes of the work don’t sound like an irritating afterthought, as they do on many other recordings (though neither of Karajan’s). Also the vivid presence and instrumental timbres lend amazing colour to the performance, especially to the more reflective passages – I can’t recall the exquisite string and wind playing after the opening sounding so downright eerie as here.

Comparisons to Karajan’s 1974 version reveal slightly more air around the image for DG, and at least as fine Berlin playing – not that the VPO play anything other than superbly. The Decca sound has more presence though, and the interpretation shows Karajan to be more willing to delve into the darker recesses of the work. In fact the performance is a lot earthier than the DG and sounds more unified. There are occasions where the 1974 version can sound episodic – not so here.