After leaving the Philadelphia, Stokowski recorded
with several elite orchestras until it was decided that RCA Victor would
set up an ad hoc recording ensemble for him. This was largely composed
of members of the NBC and New York Philharmonic Orchestras and was called
"Leopold Stokowski and his Symphony Orchestra." He made a
very recommendable Haydn Symphony with them (No 53 The Imperial) and
explored contemporary Americana with Lou Harrison, Ben Weber and Roger
Goeb.
The performances on this CD date from one week in December
1947. This is Stokowski’s only recording of Les Preludes, fiery and
kinetic, whereas he recorded the Swan of Tuonela four times between
1929 and 1976. He had some outstanding section leaders in his orchestra
for these recordings, not least leader John Corigliano and the co-leaders
of the viola section, William Lincer and Walter Trampler. Leonard Rose,
no less, led the cellos and we can especially hear Mitchell Miller,
whose cor anglais graces and illuminates the Sibelius. This is a good
but not exceptional account of The Swan and by no means demonstrably
superior to Stokowski’s other commercial traversals. The music for The
Sleeping Beauty has been hacked around a fair bit to fit onto Victor
set DM 1205 though more than 52 minutes survive and most enjoyable they
are. String tone is particularly attractive and responsive, richly nuanced
throughout. The sound was always rather splendidly forward on this set
and it has emerged well refurbished.
Jonathan Woolf
Leopold Stokowski and his Symphony Orchestra