Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra; Debussy: Jeux in Bloomington, MN

Conductor
Francois-Xavier Roth
is perhaps best known for his work with his historical-instrument ensemble
Les Siecles
, which has achieved some revelatory results in French repertory from the years on either side of 1900. However, he also conducts traditional orchestras with interesting results, and this live album with the
London Symphony Orchestra
drew enough listeners to land on classical charts in the spring of 2023. It is a mixed bag.
Roth
tries to apply the edgy, wiry sound of his
recordings to
Strauss
'
Also sprach Zarathustra
, where it is really not a good fit. His tempos are notably quick, robbing the opening sunrise of any majesty and the darker passages of urgency. The
LSO Live
engineering staff, admittedly, faces the black belt of challenges with the
, and they keep the big passages clear at the expense of the quiet ones, which lurk on the border of inaudibility.
Debussy
's
Jeux
, the only ballet ever written about a lost tennis ball, is closer to
's bailiwick, and he delivers a graceful reading with good control over the
LSO
strings. Certainly, this conductor has added readings of value to the symphonic discography, and his fans will find things to chew on here, but for the main attraction,
, only the most devoted would choose this recording. ~ James Manheim