Leopold Stokowski, Conductor [Box set]

The Philadelphia Orchestra (Performer), Bizet, Borodin, Dvorák, Rimsky-Korsakov, Liszt, Saint-Saëns, Scriabin, Sibelius, Shostakovich, Strauss Bach (Composer), Leopold Stokowski (Conductor, Orchestra), The All-American Youth Orchestra The Philadelphia Orchestra (Orchestra), The All-American Youth Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: The Philadelphia Orchestra
• Orchestra: Leopold Stokowski, The All-American Youth Orchestra The Philadelphia Orchestra, The All-American Youth Orchestra
• Conductor: Leopold Stokowski
• Composer: Bizet, Borodin, Dvorák, Rimsky-Korsakov, Liszt, Saint-Saëns, Scriabin, Sibelius, Shostakovich, Strauss Bach
• Audio CD (October 1, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Andante
• ASIN: B00005U588
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #350,543 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov / Scheherazade, Op. 35 (Philadelphia Orchestra); I. The Sea and Sinbad’s Ship

2. II. The Story of the Kalendar Prince

3. III. The Young Prince and the Young Princess

4. IV. The Festival at Baghdad; The Sea; The Ship goes to pieces on a Rock surmounted by a Bronze Warrior

5. Alexander Borodin / Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor (Philadelphia Orchestra); I. Prelude

See all 8 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. J.S. Bach / Toccata and Fugue in D Minor BWV 565 (Philadelphia rchestra, transcribed by L. Stokowski)

2. Georges Bizet / L=92Arl=E9sienne (Philadelphia Orchestra); I. Prelude

3. II. Menuet

4. III. Adagietto

5. IV. Danse proven=E7ale

See all 28 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. J.S. Bach / Passacaglie and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582(Philadelphia Orchestra, transcribed by L. Stokowski)

2. Franz Liszt / Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (Philadelphia Orchestra, orchestration by Doppler)

3. Jean Sibelius / The Swan of Tuonela (Philadelphia Orchestra)

4. Jean Sibelius / Valse triste from Incidental Music to Kuolema, Op. 44 (Philadelphia Orchestra)

5. Alexander Scriabin / Poem of Ecstasy, Op. 54 (Philadelphia Orchestra)

See all 6 tracks on this disc

Disc: 4

1. Antonin Dvor=E1k / Symphony No. 9 in E Minor. Op. 95 "From the New World" (Philadelphia Orchestra); I. Adagio; Allegro molto

2. II. Largo

3. III. Scherzando-molto vivace

4. IV. Allegro confuoco

5. Richard Strauss / Death and Transfiguration, Op. 24 (All-American Youth Orchestra)

See all 6 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

For a shock, start with the first disc of this collection of Stokowski's legendary partnership with the Philadelphia Orchestra. It opens with Scheherazade, recorded in 1934 but sounding as amazingly fresh and detailed as if it dated from two decades later. Not everything is up to the clarity and transparency of this classic recording, in large part because of the inherent limitations of the original recordings, all of which date from Stoki's golden decade from 1927 to 1937 (with the exception of the two non-Philadelphia items from 1940 and 1941.) Many performances are outstanding, including the Scheherazade, the Dvorák "New World," and the Nutcracker Suite. Also noteworthy are the smaller works and the transcriptions of Bach organ music, which still afford immense pleasure even in these days of "historically informed" performances. Every piece is infused with personality, and those famous Philadelphia strings are gorgeous. Deluxe packaging and excellent transfers make this a must for Stoki fans. Others should come away from this set with a new respect for his rare ability to transfer his charisma through even the microphones of that long-gone era. --Dan Davis