Leopold Stokowski: The Columbia Stereo Recordings

LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI was one of the 20th century's greatest conductors, transforming the Philadelphia Orchestra into one of the world's finest in a few seasons. Stokowski championed modern music with countless world premieres and in 1917 began a recording career that would last for sixty years. The Columbia Stereo Recordings includes two recordings with the Philadelphia Orchestra: Falla's El amor brujo and one of his celebrated "Symphonic Synthesis" of music from Wagner's operas. Also included are three of his famous Bach Transcriptions, Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto with Glenn Gould on piano and Ives' Fourth Symphony that Stokowski pronounced "one of the most difficult works I have ever conducted." Rounding out this impressive set are the Maestro's final recording sessions devoted to two of the most youthful symphonies ever written, Mendelssohn's Fourth and Bizet's Symphony in C. The Bizet finale was taped in one complete take and was used, with no editing, as the finished recording. Since it was the very last time Stokowski conducted, it has considerable historic significance.

DISC 1: FALLA: El amor brujo; Wagner; Tristan und Isolde
Love Music from Acts II and III
DISC 2: BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5; 3 Choral Preludes
DISC 3: BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5, Op. 73 "Emperor"
DISC 4: IVES: Symphony No. 4
DISC 5: BIZET: Carmen Suite; L'Arlesienne Suite
DISC 6: Leopold Stokowski Transcriptons
DISC 7: Sibelius: Symphony No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 39; The Swan of Tuonela
DISC 8: TCHAIKOVSKY: Aurora ' Wedding Ballet Music
DISC 9: MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No. 4; Bizet: Symphony in C
DISC 10: BRAHMS: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73; Tragic Ouverture, Op. 81