Leopold Stokowski

Leopold Stokowski
Leopold Anthony Stokowski (18 April 1882 – 13 September 1977) was a British conductor of Polish and Irish descent. One of the leading conductors of the early and mid-20th Century, he is best known for his long association with the Philadelphia Orchestra and for appearing in the film Fantasia. He was especially noted for his free-hand conducting style that spurned the traditional baton and for obtaining a characteristically sumptuous sound from the orchestras he directed.

Stokowski was music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the NBC Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Symphony Orchestra, the Symphony of the Air and many others. He was also the founder of the All-American Youth Orchestra, the New York City Symphony, the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra and the American Symphony Orchestra.

Stokowski conducted the music for and appeared in several Hollywood films, including Disney's Fantasia, and was a lifelong champion of contemporary composers, giving many premieres of new music during his 60-year conducting career. Stokowski, who made his official conducting debut in 1909, appeared in public for the last time in 1975 but continued making recordings until June 1977, a few months before his death at the age of 95.
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Leopold Stokowski

Leopold Stokowski

Leopold Anthony Stokowski (18 April 1882 – 13 September 1977) was a British conductor of Polish and Irish descent. One of the leading conductors of the early and mid-20th Century, he is best known for his long association with the Philadelphia Orchestra and for appearing in the film Fantasia. He was especially noted for his free-hand conducting style that spurned the traditional baton and for obtaining a characteristically sumptuous sound from...
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55 albums
ELGAR, KOUSSEVITZKY, STOKOWSKI Accidental Stereo Recordings (1929-33) - PASC422
ELGAR, KOUSSEVITZKY, STOKOWSKI Accidental Stereo Recordings (1929-33) - PASC422
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TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op.74 (Pathétique)
RAVEL Boléro
SAINT-SAËNS Carnival of the Animals
STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring
ELGAR Cockaigne Overture

    Studio recordings · 1929-1933
    Total duration: 74:03

    Sir Edward Elgar - BBC Symphony Orchestra
    Serge Koussevitzky - Boston Symphony Orchestra
    Leopold Stokowski - The Philadelphia Orchestra
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    FEUERMANN in Philadelphia: Bloch & Strauss (1940) - PASC168
    FEUERMANN in Philadelphia: Bloch & Strauss (1940) - PASC168
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    BLOCH Schelomo
    R. STRAUSS Don Quixote

    Recorded in 1940
    Total duration: 58:08

    Emanuel Feuermann, cello
    The Philadelphia Orchestra
    conducted by Leopold Stokowski and Eugene Ormandy

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    MILSTEIN Rarities: Lalo, Mendelssohn, Dvořák (1936-47) - PASC503
    MILSTEIN Rarities: Lalo, Mendelssohn, Dvořák (1936-47) - PASC503
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    LALO Symphonie espagnole
    MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto
    DVOŘÁK Violin Concerto

    Recorded 1936-47
    Total duration: 66:17

    Nathan Milstein, violin

    The Philadelphia Orchestra
    conducted by Eugene Ormandy

    Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York
    conducted by Arturo Toscanini
    conducted by Leopold Stokowski

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    RACHMANINOV plays Rachmaninov (1929) - PASC521
    RACHMANINOV plays Rachmaninov (1929) - PASC521
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    RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor
    The legendary 1929 recording in two different versions
    and an additional alternate take

    Recorded in 1929
    Total duration: 66:39

    Sergei Rachmaninov piano
    The Philadelphia Orchestra
    conducted by Leopold Stokowski

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    RACHMANINOV plays Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos 1-4, Paganini Rhapsody (1929-41) - PASC544
    RACHMANINOV plays Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos 1-4, Paganini Rhapsody (1929-41) - PASC544
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    RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 1
    RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 2
    RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 3
    RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 4
    RACHMANINOV Paganini Rhapsody

    Studio recordings, 1929-1941
    Total duration: 2hr 17:25

    Sergei Rachmaninov, piano
    The Philadelphia Orchestra
    conducted by Eugene Ormandy & Leopold Stokowski

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    SCHOENBERG Unheard Recordings - Stokowski/NBC & Leinsdorf/BSO (1941 & 1962) - PASC724
    SCHOENBERG Unheard Recordings - Stokowski/NBC & Leinsdorf/BSO (1941 & 1962) - PASC724
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    SCHOENBERG Pelleas und Melisande
    SCHOENBERG Verkärte Nacht

    Live recordings, 1941 & 1962
    Total duration: 66:50

    NBC Symphony Orchestra
    conducted by Leopold Stokowski

    Boston Symphony Orchestra
    conducted by Erich Leinsdorf

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