The opening of Strauss’ Zarathustra is one of the most recognizable musical excerpts in history. That unto itself always fascinates me: What makes a piece of music resonate with so many people? It can’t just be its commercial associations after the fact, because those associations invariably reference the emotional underpinnings of the music itself. I decided to try to analyze what makes this opening so universal.
—conductor Marin Alsop breaks down Richard Strauss’ iconic opening to Also Sprach Zarathustra
