Michel Schwalbé plays the violin on this 1973 recording of the Berliner Philharmoniker under Herbert von Karajan. Strauss’ symphonic poem based on Nietzsche is now firmly linked to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 film: A Space Odyssey.
The recordings for this UHQCD are from 1973 and 1969.
UHQCD stands for Ultimate High Quality Compact Disc and is a joint development of the Japanese CD replication company Memory-Tech and the Audio Quality CD Company from Hong Kong. Unlike conventional CDs, UHQCDs are not pressed from polycarbonate, but rather cast from a photopolymer and cured with UV light. Another layer of high-purity polycarbonate is applied to protect the softer photopolymer from scratching. The combination results in a significantly reduced reflection of the laser light inside the CD and an unequaled precise edge transition between pits and lands of the CD. UHQCDs are 100% compatible with normal CD players. Musically, the result is a sound that is strongly reminiscent of analog master tapes.
