Enescu, Glière, Tchaikovsky, Arnold: Orchestral Works

Featuring

Leopold Stokowski
Ilse Hollweg
BBC Symphony Orchestra
International Festival Youth Orchestra
George Enescu
Malcolm Arnold

Reinhold Glière
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Did you know?

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Performer Biography

Stokowski built the Philadelphia Orchestra into one of the world's finest after moving there in 1912, and was an active recording artist for 60 years, starting in 1917.

Performer Biography

Stokowski's ambition to become a conductor was realized in 1909 with his debut in Paris with the Colonne Orchestra, after starting his career as a church organist and choirmaster.

Interpretation

Stokowski, at 91 years old, conducted the Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 with the International Festival Youth Orchestra without making allowances for their youth, leading to an 'idiosyncratic' and 'exhilarating' performance.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Leopold Stokowski frequently championed music by living composers of his day, including Shostakovich, Stravinsky, and Rachmaninoff, and expressed a strong liking for Russian music.

Performer Biography

Leopold Stokowski, the conductor, was born in London in 1882 of Polish/Irish ancestry and entered the Royal College of Music at the age of 13, making him its youngest student at the time.

Recording & Production

The Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 on this album was recorded in rehearsal and performance at the Royal Albert Hall on August 19, 1973, with the International Festival Youth Orchestra.

Critical Reception

Malcolm Arnold, composer of 'Beckus the Dandipratt', was greatly impressed by Stokowski's performance of his work, calling it a 'wonderful performance' and a 'great honour'.