That fugue-like section toward the end of the opening movement raised goose flesh. What a performance and example of Stokowski playing it straight! I've loved this piece for some decades and it's sinful that this version never wound up on my shelves.
Thanks for turning me on to this! I'd never heard of Frank Martin's Petite Symphonie Concertante or Stokowski's recording of it before, but I sampled the first movement on UA-cam and quite liked it. If I had to pick just one Stokowski recording it would be either his 1932 recording of Schönberg’s Gurrelieder (despite the sonics - stunning by 1932 standards, inevitably limited by today’s), his Houston Symphony recording of Shostakovich’s 11th Symphony or his pioneering record of Ives’ Fourth Symphony. I also quite like his Wagner (the 1930's recordings with the Philadelphia Orchestra, reissued on CD by Pearl).
Yes, I love the Martin as you do. A truly unique performance. And others among my favorites are his Bach - Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV565 (Czech Philharmonic), Sibelius Symphony No. 1 and Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 3, both late recordings and true classics. So difficult to choose only one. If only he had been granted another day on Earth, he was scheduled to record Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 2 the next day, but his time was up and he was called across the night before. We have only his Hollywood Bowl cut performance of Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 2.
Yes! An unforgettable performance of an unforgettable work. No mediocrity here. I mgiht have chosen Stoky's EMI recording of the Tallis Fantasia--truly luscious string sonorities plus loads of atmosphere; or even the Dvorak String Serenade with which that Vaughan Williams was coupled. But the Frank Martin is superb and one of the highlights of that Icon box. Suggestion for this series: Maurizio Pollini. It has to be Chopin, right? Well, it could be, but my choice would be his recording of Beethoven's "Hammerklavier" Sonata, which has few rivals for astonishing technical facility and depth of understanding.
Dave, I knew you were going to choose that recording the moment you started speaking. That would be my choice too. 😃 I also think the Warner Stokowski box is ripe for reissue, in remastered sound.
Well, that was the most enjoyment I've had from a harpsichord in some time. I generally take the Beecham attitude to the instrument but found it fresh here. I see you've covered this recording in a number of videos, but somehow those eluded me. I only have the Ansermet in my collection but will spring for the Stoki now.
I have not heard the Stokowski Martin recording--now I may have to. My own candidate for the top Stokowski recording would be by Olivier Messiaen: L'Ascencion. This was originally issued in 1971 on London Phase 4 with the London Symphony Orchestra. The other side has the Ives Second Orchestral Set, also in a stunning performance. I can't tell you about CD issues--I have the original LP. It is one of the best sounding Phase 4 recordings--in particular, the strings in the final movement sound just fantastic. Stoky also recorded L'Ascencion back about 1950 with the NY Philharmonic. That performance is nowhere near as good and the mono sound is merely OK.
Interesting piece indeed...to my ear it sounds like Wendy Carlos borrowed some of the motifs (8:50-10:50) for the original soundtrack of Disney's TRON.
Would love to see placido domingo covered in this series. Since he sang damn near everything in the repertoire, it would be especially interesting to see what you consider to be his most essential/representative work
Interesting choice! I actually don't know the piece so I have some homework to do. But when I saw the topic I immediately thought of another 'modern' work, the Ives Symphony 4 which of course has a lot going for it: first performance of one of the great, if not greatest, American symphonies, still considered a reference recording, highlighting a composer considered too gnarly for many listeners, not performed in whole until 40+ years after its' composition...
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Stokowski conducting the soundtrack for "Fantasia" (1940). I wonder how many young people were drawn to classical music by this film over the years.
I was one. LR
It was recorded in a primitive stereo.
@@jimcrawford5039 Fantasound.
WOW! I've never heard this, and it was amazing! Thanks for the recommendation.
Such an intelligent choice: great sound, great work, great interpretation and also representing Stoki's advocacy of 20th century music.
That fugue-like section toward the end of the opening movement raised goose flesh. What a performance and example of Stokowski playing it straight! I've loved this piece for some decades and it's sinful that this version never wound up on my shelves.
Thanks for turning me on to this! I'd never heard of Frank Martin's Petite Symphonie Concertante or Stokowski's recording of it before, but I sampled the first movement on UA-cam and quite liked it. If I had to pick just one Stokowski recording it would be either his 1932 recording of Schönberg’s Gurrelieder (despite the sonics - stunning by 1932 standards, inevitably limited by today’s), his Houston Symphony recording of Shostakovich’s 11th Symphony or his pioneering record of Ives’ Fourth Symphony. I also quite like his Wagner (the 1930's recordings with the Philadelphia Orchestra, reissued on CD by Pearl).
Yes, I love the Martin as you do. A truly unique performance. And others among my favorites are his Bach - Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV565 (Czech Philharmonic), Sibelius Symphony No. 1 and Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 3, both late recordings and true classics. So difficult to choose only one.
If only he had been granted another day on Earth, he was scheduled to record Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 2 the next day, but his time was up and he was called across the night before. We have only his Hollywood Bowl cut performance of Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 2.
Yes! An unforgettable performance of an unforgettable work. No mediocrity here. I mgiht have chosen Stoky's EMI recording of the Tallis Fantasia--truly luscious string sonorities plus loads of atmosphere; or even the Dvorak String Serenade with which that Vaughan Williams was coupled. But the Frank Martin is superb and one of the highlights of that Icon box. Suggestion for this series: Maurizio Pollini. It has to be Chopin, right? Well, it could be, but my choice would be his recording of Beethoven's "Hammerklavier" Sonata, which has few rivals for astonishing technical facility and depth of understanding.
Dave, I knew you were going to choose that recording the moment you started speaking. That would be my choice too. 😃 I also think the Warner Stokowski box is ripe for reissue, in remastered sound.
Well, that was the most enjoyment I've had from a harpsichord in some time. I generally take the Beecham attitude to the instrument but found it fresh here. I see you've covered this recording in a number of videos, but somehow those eluded me. I only have the Ansermet in my collection but will spring for the Stoki now.
I have not heard the Stokowski Martin recording--now I may have to. My own candidate for the top Stokowski recording would be by Olivier Messiaen: L'Ascencion. This was originally issued in 1971 on London Phase 4 with the London Symphony Orchestra. The other side has the Ives Second Orchestral Set, also in a stunning performance. I can't tell you about CD issues--I have the original LP. It is one of the best sounding Phase 4 recordings--in particular, the strings in the final movement sound just fantastic. Stoky also recorded L'Ascencion back about 1950 with the NY Philharmonic. That performance is nowhere near as good and the mono sound is merely OK.
Stokowski: the antithesis of the word “mediocre.“
Yes! This is the one. I'd also like to save his Ilya Murometz which, cut to ribbons as it is, blazes and glows like no other.
Great choice! I still think I'd go for the Sibelius 1 recorded in London.
Interesting piece indeed...to my ear it sounds like Wendy Carlos borrowed some of the motifs (8:50-10:50) for the original soundtrack of Disney's TRON.
Would love to see placido domingo covered in this series. Since he sang damn near everything in the repertoire, it would be especially interesting to see what you consider to be his most essential/representative work
I listened this music yesterday. Must be a coincedent.😂
Given that you were able to review the Herman Krebbers Eloquence box early, might you be able to do the same for the upcoming Vienna Octet box?
I don't know.
Interesting choice! I actually don't know the piece so I have some homework to do. But when I saw the topic I immediately thought of another 'modern' work, the Ives Symphony 4 which of course has a lot going for it: first performance of one of the great, if not greatest, American symphonies, still considered a reference recording, highlighting a composer considered too gnarly for many listeners, not performed in whole until 40+ years after its' composition...
Yes, that was the other choice.
Jose Serebrier helped.