Stokowski conducts Beethoven's 'Egmont' Overture at the age of 91 (1973)

Leopold Stokowski had one of the widest orchestral repertoires of any 20th Century conductor, ranging from Bach, Handel and Vivaldi all the way through to Shostakovich, Schoenberg and Ives. Beethoven was also firmly in his repertoire right from the very beginning, his first concert with the Cincinnati Orchestra in 1909 featuring the 5th Symphony. He programmed the "Egmont" Overture for the first time in 1912, also in Cincinnati, and featured it many times over the years.
His very last performance of the piece is presented here and comes from a BBC Studio broadcast recorded with the New Philharmonia on 7 June 1973, a few weeks after Stokowski had celebrated his 91st birthday. Also on the programme was Dvorak's "New World" Symphony and Havergal Brian's 28th Symphony, this work being the last of the many World Premieres that Stokowski presented over his 60-years conducting career. As will be heard, even as a nonagenarian, Stokowski had lost little of his extraordinary vitality. (From 'BBC Legends' CD BBCL 4115-2).

[@stefanrauch8933]

To my mind much more lively and thrilling than the Phase 4 studio recording from the 17 January 1973. This rendition was recorded at the Maida Vale Studio in London-usually notorious for a bad sonority. No problem for the skilled Maestro. In the same concert Stokie performed an overwhelming beautiful, rousing and touching Dvorak 9th!!

[@burtw4769]

I fully agree with Stefan Rauch!