Leopold Stokowski

November 25th, 2014

Genre:
Classical

Years Active:
'10s, '20s, '30s, '40s, '50s, '60s, '70s

Leopold Stokowski

Biography

Leopold Stokowski was among the most important and influential conductors of the 20th century — famed for the richly seductive sound of his ensembles, he was also a tireless promoter of new music, premiering key works from composers including Mahler, Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff. Born April 18, 1882 in London, Stokowski later studied at the Paris Conservatory, and upon relocating to the U.S. in 1905 signed on as organist and choirmaster at St. Bartholomew's Church in New York City. Four years later he began his conducting career with the Cincinnati Symphony, and in 1912 he accepted the helm of the Philadelphia Orchestra and transformed it into one of the most celebrated ensembles in the world. . In 1917 the orchestra made its first recording, Brahms' Hungarian Dance #5; in the decades that followed, Stokowski made over 700 records, among them the score to Walt Disney's 1940 masterpiece Fantasia (in which he also appeared). He also introduced over 400 new compositions in either world or U.S. premieres; among the most notable were performances of Mahler's Symphony #8, Prokofiev's Symphony #6, Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto #4, Stravinsky's Le Sacre du printemps, and Vaughan Williams' Symphony #9. Additionally, Stokowski was a pivotal force in popularizing the music of Bach, although his transcriptions were often highly controversial.

Although Stokowski exited from full-time duties in Philadelphia in 1936, he conducted part of each season for several years thereafter; he founded the All-American Youth Orchestra in 1940, and between 1942 and 1943 co-conducted the NBC Symphony Orchestra alongside the legendary Arturo Toscanini. Although in later years he refused long-term conducting projects, he enjoyed brief tenures with many of the world's most famous ensembles, and in 1962 also founded New York's American Symphony Orchestra, a group for aspiring young talent. After cutting his final recordings in May 1977, Stokowski died on September 13 of that year; he was 95 years old.

Top Albums

1. Orff: Carmin..
Fantasia, Leopold Stokowski
2. Fantasia
Rachmaninoff: The Four Piano Concertos; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Sergei Rachmaninoff
3. Rachmaninoff..
Tchaikovsky: The Orchestral Masterpieces, American Symphony Orchestra
4. Tchaikovsky:..
Mussorgsy - Stokowski: Transcriptions, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
5. Mussorgsy - ..
Stokowski: Bach Transcriptions, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
6. Stokowski: B..
Russian Orchestral Works - Rimsky-Korsakov: Le Coq d'or - Khachaturian: Sabre Dance - Mussorgsky: Hopak, Eugene Ormandy
7. Russian Orch..
Captain Kangaroo Narrates Peter and the Wolf, Captain Kangaroo
8. Captain Kang..
Swan Lake, Leopold Stokowski
9. Swan Lake
Prokofiev: Peter & the Wolf (Remastered), Leopold Stokowski
10. Prokofiev: P..
Classic Library Series: Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade & Russian Easter Overture, Leopold Stokowski
11. Classic Libr..
Holst: The Planets, The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
12. Holst: The P..
Stravinsky: the Rite of Spring, The Philadelphia Orchestra
13. Stravinsky: ..
Bizet: Carmen and L'Arlésienne Suites (Excerpts), Leopold Stokowski
14. Bizet: Carme..
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition (orchestrations Compiled By L. Slatkin) - Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1, Leonard Slatkin
15. Mussorgsky: ..
Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, Enesco: Romanian Rhapsody No. 1, Smetana: The Moldau & The Bartered Bride: Overture, Leopold Stokowski
16. Liszt: Hunga..
Bach Transcriptions, Vol. 2, José Serebrier
17. Bach Transcr..
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade & Tchaikovsky: Marche Slave, Leopold Stokowski
18. Rimsky-Korsa..
Leopold Stokowksi: Decca Recordings 1965-1972 - Original Masters, Leopold Stokowski
19. Leopold Stok..
Bach, J.S.: Passacaglia and Fugue In C Minor, Bwv 582, Christian Rieger
20. Bach, J.S.: ..

Top Songs
Name Album Time Price
1.
Carmina Burana, Fortuna Imperatrix M.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 2:20 $0.99
2.
Carmina Burana, Blanziflor et Helena.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 1:38 $0.99
3.
Carmina Burana, Pt. III "Cour d&.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 0:59 $0.99
4.
Carmina Burana, Pt. III "Cour d&.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 1:56 $0.99
5.
Carmina Burana, Pt. III "Cour d&.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 2:41 $0.99
6.
Carmina Burana, Pt. III "Cour d&.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 0:57 $0.99
7.
Carmina Burana, Pt. III "Cour d&.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 1:11 $0.99
8.
Carmina Burana, Pt. III "Cour d&.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 1:21 $0.99
9.
Carmina Burana, Pt. III "Cour d&.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 1:58 $0.99
10.
Carmina Burana, Pt. III "Cour d&.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 1:47 $0.99
11.
Carmina Burana, Pt. III "Cour d&.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 4:07 $0.99
12.
Carmina Burana, Pt. II "In taber.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 2:36 $0.99
13.
Carmina Burana, Pt. II "In taber.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 1:17 $0.99
14.
Carmina Burana, Pt. II "In taber.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 2:26 $0.99
15.
Carmina Burana, Pt. II "In taber.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 1:55 $0.99
16.
Carmina Burana, Uf dem anger: Were d.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 0:52 $0.99
17.
Carmina Burana, Uf dem anger: Reie Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 4:07 $0.99
18.
Carmina Burana, Uf dem anger: Chrame.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 2:33 $0.99
19.
Carmina Burana, Uf dem anger: Floret.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 3:13 $0.99
20.
Carmina Burana, Uf dem anger: Tanz Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 1:35 $0.99
21.
Carmina Burana, Pt. I "Primo ver.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 1:45 $0.99
22.
Carmina Burana, Pt. I "Primo ver.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 1:50 $0.99
23.
Carmina Burana, Pt. I "Primo ver.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 2:42 $0.99
24.
Carmina Burana, Fortuna Imperatrix M.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 1:41 $0.99
25.
Carmina Burana, Fortuna Imperatrix M.. Orff: Carmina Burana - Stra.. 2:13 $0.99

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