Review: Stokowski's Typically Eccentric Warner ICON Box

[@edwardcasper5231]

Are you suggesting that Stokowski was eccentric? Next you'll be telling me that there's gambling at Rick's.

[@alanmcginn4796]

I have been collecting these ICON boxes and I have to say, as a general rule, they are of a very high caliber and are great value for money. And honestly very well filled CD's.

[@renaudgautier3975]

You can't just acquire a box (or 2 or 3) and think you've 'got' Stokowski. Endlessly fascinating and endlessly unpredictable. The music world misses him.

[@debussy10]

Fabulous review: you've really "gotten" Stoki- in a balanced and penetrating way. Bravo! (as usual)

[@robertdandre94101]

Oh what a beautiful versions of ''the swan of tuonela'' by sibelius in this box....i love this versions....!slowly...like a chamber music,beautiful moments of music.....other box ( 10cd) by stokowsky on membran...interresting...mono recording with philadelphia ( 90%) orchestra and other....the sound is,so ok.....the contains is good ( new world symphonies,beethoven 9,fantasia movie music etc)....for the price.....

[@shanesaunders420]

I thought that you would be interested to know that there was an earlier mono RCA recording of the Swan featuring Mitchell Miller on English Horn who was famously later known as Mitch Miller!

[@HassoBenSoba]

In summer, 1969, I went "cuckoo for Carmina", and bought every version available (at the time, I think it was 7). I saved Stokowski 'til last, assuming it would blow away everything else. What a BOMB! The most inane, outrageously distorted hack-job imaginable. I tossed it soon after. Odd, you would think that Stoky would have added lots of tam-tam, or at least highlighted what Orff wrote. But no, it's barely audible. BTW, the winners of the All-Carmina Sweepstakes of '69 were (and still are the best, IMO) Smetacek/Czech Phil ('61) and Sawallisch/Cologne ('56/mono). LR

[@aaronrabushka2180]

Yes, Stokowski's Carmina Burana IS weird, and not compellingly so. Lots of verses were cut, lots of percussion left out, some of the bass solo lines given to the tenor, and some weird Texas accents at "equitqvit" and "geritten hinnen." I agree about Smetacek and Sawallish--their versions are great. I'd also like to add Eugen Jochum's complete Trionfi cycle for admiration.

[@HassoBenSoba]

@@aaronrabushka2180 That's RIGHT! -- I forgot about the "Hinc, hinc, hinc equitavit" (in "Floret Silva"), as only a group of rowdy Texas cowboys could have delivered it. It was at this point when first listening that I totally lost it.

[@DavidJohnson-of3vh]

I still have that Firebird/Petrushka BPO lp. It was on Capitol and a little boomy sounding at times.

[@aaronrabushka2180]

I do like most of the Loeffler I've heard, and the Pagan Poem is great! Problem with it is that it presents concerto difficulty to the pianist without concerto glory. That being said, I think it's worth any orchestra's tine to present, and any audiences time to absorb.

[@aaronrabushka2180]

I also like Stokowski's Planets, even with the extra tam-tam roll in Mars, and the missing organ glissando in Uranus.

[@davidaiken1061]

Thanks for a very enjoyable series. I did have a question about the EMI/Warner Stokowski box. Am I reight to assume that its contents are limited to Stoky's Capitol recordings? The reason I ask is that my favorite Stokowski/EMI recording, which couples Vaughan Williams's Tallis Fantasia with Dvorak's String Serenade, is not included in this ICON release. That, I believe, was a later recording. It introduced me to both works--unforgettably. Now I'm going to backtrack and take in your Mercury/Paray box segment. Can't wait.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I don't know what was on Capitol and what wasn't, but as you say the string works are not included.

[@robertpullin5830]

@@DavesClassicalGuide The RVW and Dvorak are late recordings which together with the Rachmaninov Third Symphony appeared on the Desmar label. Emi licensed them for a very brief release on CD

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

@@robertpullin5830 That's right! Thank you.

[@bbailey7818]

I imprinted on Stokie's Shostakovich 11th and still enjoy it though it's not my fave. But I definitely do not like his Shostakovich 1st which in both of his recordings sprawls interminably. I prefer much tighter, more tautly organized versions.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I like it, but I hear you. It's not my fave either.