Leopold Stokowski, New Philharmonia Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Handel: Messiah (2004)
Leopold Stokowski, New Philharmonia Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Handel: Messiah (Highlights) (2004)
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 565 Mb | Total time: 45:50+58:05 | Scans included
Classical | Label: Cala Records | # CACD0538 | Recorded: 1966
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 565 Mb | Total time: 45:50+58:05 | Scans included
Classical | Label: Cala Records | # CACD0538 | Recorded: 1966
As the notes to this welcome release make clear Stokowski had never conducted The Four Seasons before the Phase Four series of LPs of which this is so engaging an example. He, soloist Hugh Bean and the New Philharmonia went to the BBC’s Maida Vale studios and taped it for later broadcast (in the end it wasn’t until 1968 that it hit the airwaves), recording it the following day. The late Hugh Bean has recalled that it was in the can in one session – Stokowski remaining the professional to his batonless fingertips.
He used the Malipiero edition, a tradition reaching back to the first recording of the work, by Molinari in 1940. Smaller bands, such as Boyd Neel’s, had been experimenting with lighter textures from the 1930s onwards but by 1966, as now, catholicity reigned with regard to size, ornamentation and textual matters. One of the most obvious examples of Stokowski’s approach is his string moulding, especially the basses (sample the Allegro of Spring) and the big contrasts between forte and piano – dynamics are in a series of constant terracing and mobility. Elasticity of phrasing is here, certainly, but the effect is natural sounding and expressive within the traditions of a romantic approach. Echo effects are pressed home to good effect – try the final movement of Spring - and the recording set up is expertly employed to cope with the harpsichord, cello and violin solos in the Allegro non molto of Summer; a well balanced and judiciously adjudged spatial set up as well. In the same season’s Presto finale we hear the string entry points lapping like waves but also the unadorned, unvarnished and unornamented Largo of Winter. One could point to the Loveday/ASMIF/Marriner recording as being the exemplar of sensitivity here, but the noble simplicity of the Bean/Stokowski reading, with its share of expressive diminuendi and forceful orchestral pizzicati, command admiration.
The sessions for Messiah seem to have run on a similarly business-like basis. There were apparently balance checks but no extensive rehearsals – if indeed there was much of a rehearsal at all, though obviously there would have been run throughs for the soloists. Again Stokowski eschews exaggeration. The tempo is relatively slow though not unconscionably so. As with Vivaldi Stokowski encourages well-moulded string lines, as well as a characteristically veiled tone (especially in the Pastoral Symphony). His singers are in decent form; Bowen is rather lean voiced though able, Cameron is light voiced if agile, Armstrong sustains I know that my Redeemer liveth at an Isobel Baillie/Malcolm Sargent type of tempo and Norma Proctor is fine. Stokowski aims at legato phrasing and the long line; occasionally he puts up the soprano line (listen to Hallelujah and the final Amen), one presumes the better to cut through with added brilliance and brightness. Otherwise it’s quite a straight and narrow performance by his lights.
Phase 4 paid dividends in this brace of recordings; warm, deep, rich. Notes by Edward Johnson are up to his usual elucidatory standard. Admirers of the conductor won’t hesitate; even detractors might like to lend an ear.–Jonathan Woolf
Performer:
Vivaldi - The Four Seasons:
Hugh Bean, solo violin
New Philharmonia Orchestra
Handel - Messiah (highlights):
Sheila Armstrong, soprano
Norma Procter, contralto
Kenneth Bowen, tenor
John Cameron, bass
LSO Chorus
London Symphony Orchestra
Leopold Stokowski, conductor
Tracklist:
CD1:
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
The Four Seasons (Il Quattro Stagioni), Op. 8
Concerto No.1 In E Major, RV.269 'Spring':
01. l. Allegro
02. ll. Largo e pianissimo
03. lll. Danza pastorale - Allegro
Concerto No.2 In G Minor, RV.315 'Summer':
04. l. Allegro non molto
05. ll. Adagio
06. lll. L'orage (Presto)
Concerto No.3 In F Major, RV.293 'Autumn':
07. l. Allegro
08. ll. Adagio
09. lll. Allegro
Concerto No.4 In F Minor, RV.297 'Winter':
10. l. Allegro non molto
11. ll. Largo
12. lll. Allegro
CD2:
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Messiah, HWV 56 (highlights)
01. Overture
02. Every valley shall be exalted
03. And the glory of the Lord
04. Pastoral Symphony
05. Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened… He shall feed his flock… Come unto Him
06. Thy rebuke hath broken His heart… Behold and see if there be any sorrow
07. He was cut off out of the land of the living… But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell
08. Why do the nations
09. Hallelujah
10. I know that my Redeemer liveth
11. Since by man came death
12. Amen
Exact Audio Copy V1.3 from 2. September 2016
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Leopold Stokowski / Vivaldi - The Four Seasons, Handel - Messiah (Highlights) (Disc 1)
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Exact Audio Copy V1.3 from 2. September 2016
EAC extraction logfile from 10. September 2019, 16:01
Sheila Armstrong, Norma Procter, Kenneth Bowen, John Cameron; Leopold Stokowski / Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Handel: Messiah (Highlights) (Disc 2)
Used drive : ATAPI iHAS124 F Adapter: 1 ID: 0
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Add ID3 tag : No
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Leopold Stokowski, New Philharmonia Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Handel: Messiah (2004)
Thanks to the original releaser