A celebrated performance conducted by Leopold Stokowski with the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Festival Hall, London, 14 June 1972.
Part 2 here:
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"Prélude à l'ap...
A celebrated performance conducted by Leopold Stokowski with the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Festival Hall, London, 14 June 1972.
"Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune" by Claude Debussy.
Performed on the double occassion of Stokowski's 90th birthday, and 60th anniversary of his LSO debut. Though he conducted the entire program from that 1912 concert, it was this Debussy performance folks recall most memorably.
"Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune" was a specialty of Stokowski over the years, but he and his soloists surpassed themselves on this night, as you will see!
Christopher Palmer wrote in "The Musical Times" that "My most treasured memory of the evening is undoubtedly 'Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune', which received a reading of exceptional refinement with all the tensions and relaxations effortlessly and beautifully graded, and unerringly poetic solo work from all the woodwind. A flawless performance."
in "The Daily Telegraph" Peter Stadlen wrote "Stokowski's legendary hands, though batonless, are put to the strictest functional use. His angular, almost ungainly movements are the simple tools for some of he most masterly conducting the century has witnessed....by what seemingly incongruous flicks of the wrist did he promote the fabulously sensitve solos in 'Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune'? Never has lifelong global fame rested on more solid foundations."
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FANTASTIC. I want to say one anecdote. The also wonderful musician Michael Jackson said one ocassion that this masterpiece of Debusy was the best piece of music of all history. And I think he was probably right.
@DavidElche87 you know I heard he liked Debussy and I guess that makes sense. This tune and the Chaccone of Bach are my choices for "best ever" Again about MJ... great musicians just know what is great... period! does not matter style or whatever... great is just plain great!!
This music is truly different...isn't it? It's not a just a piece or a few instruments, it's like a landscape, with figures and features and tones, but all with audio, nothing visual, other than men and women in fancy dress.
This is amazing. What a wonderful and creative soul this man was.
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This is amazing. What a wonderful and creative soul this man was.