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DVD Review
Leopold Stokowski on DVD
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony #5
- Franz Schubert: Symphony #8 "Unfinished"
- Richard Wagner: Die Meistersinger Overture *
- Claude Debussy: Prélude to the Afternoon of a Faun *
- Paul Dukas: Sorcerer's Apprentice **
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski (8 September 1969)
* London Symphony Orchestra/Leopold Stokowski (14 June 1972)
** London Symphony Orchestra/Pierre Monteux (1961)
EMI Classic Archive Volume 5 4928439
Okay, this will be short and sweet. You really should add this to your collection. The video is excellent color, detailed and clear. The audio is equally good monaural sound. There were some problems with the original releases; sound came from only one channel. This has since been corrected.
The performances are vintage and excellent Stokowski. It is fascinating to watch the free bowing in the Schubert, Debussy and Wagner. You can also feel The Stokowski Sound as created by at least 8 double basses at the back of the orchestra. At the end of the Meistersinger Stokowski applauds the orchestra before turning to the audience. At the rehearsal for this concert, celebrating his 90th birthday, they began the piece and suddenly Stokowski announced, "You know this piece" and the rehearsal was over. The Monteux is a lagniappe.
Copyright © 2003, Robert Stumpf II
