strauss soundstage in switcheround shocker!

Posted by: Andy Moore on 03 April 2001

My CD of Strauss' '...Zarathustra' by Fritz Reiner and the CSO (RCA Victor 09026 61494 2)has an orchestra that is reversed, i.e. cellos (celli?) on the left and violins on the right.
Has anyone else noticed? Is t a mistake or was it done for a reason?
Until I know the answer I can't bring myself to listen to it.