Big Bam Böhm

Today I learned about the conductor Karl Böhm and all his badassness. First of all, the Strauss in Kubrick's 2001 was conducted by Böhm. Stanley loved his versions and used to play them in those sections while waiting for Alex North to finish the soundtrack. Of course, they ended up using all the old originals, and scrapped the North score -- although I hear it ended up being pretty damn amazing itself. Böhm is a Mozartian's favorite. They love him doing pretty Mozart things, and even Wagnerians bow down to his versions of Die Zauberflöte and Così Fan Tutte. The Mozartians love Böhm so much, they adore his versions of stuff by the dudes they usually loathe: Bruckner, Wagner, Mahler ... He's often known as Mr. Mozart, but he's equally known as Mr. Strauss cuz he did loads with Richard. They were, in fact, pals. Strauss respected Böhm so much he wrote an opera FOR him! Yep. Daphne! Anytime Karl Böhm is conducting the Vienna Symphony it's forever. He ROCKED the Brahms cycle and BOOMED out Lil Bruckner (4 ft. 10!) Also I'd like to mention I just learned Igor Stravinsky's favorite piece of music was Beethoven's Grosse Fuge. He even preferred it to all of his own! My favorite Grosse Fuge: 1960 @ The Library of Congress: yowzer. Straight-up essential set right there.