A Dessert Island Disk
Neal Stevens | Greensboro, NC | 03/04/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a recording to be treasured.
Stokowski's greatest strength was his ability to create luscious sound from his orchestras. During his years in Philadelphia Stoky had the opportunity to adjust his personnel. He build a great orchestra. But after Philly parted with him, Stoky spent a few years in Houston and a few years conducting a student orchestra in New York, but most of the time he wandered the world guest conducting. Turns out that he could create the same warm and colorful sound from just about any orchestra that he conducted, even if he only had a few days of rehearsal. Hence he acquired the nickname "Stokowski the Magician."
During Stoky's prime years, recording technology was in its infancy. Conductors who specialized in dramatic and vital tempos were able to communicate their thoughts about the music through the old mono recordings. But Stoky's uniqueness was atmospheric. It was not reproducable on the old systems.
By the time that modern stereo sound was developed Stoky was very old and a kind of orphan, relegated to conducting the American Symphony Orchestra on a permanent basis. None of the major labels rushed to record that band, so Stoky had no long term recording contract. He made brief appearances on RCA, London, CBS, Everest and EMI. Only a handful of those recordings capture the full atmosphere of a Stokowski performance. This is one of them.
Although the Bartok piece here is truly magical, the best cut is the Barber. The sonority is overwhelming. The Schoenberg piece is also warm and delicious, rather than gratingly dissonant as it sounds on many other recordings. The Schoenberg is a work of nostalgia, and Stoky brings out the sadness and tenderness of the piece.
If I ever get the time, I will make out a Listmania list of the great Stoky recordings. In the meantime, this a good place to start.
"
