Leopold Stokowski leads the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra in his first recording of his arrangement of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor for orchestra. Recorded 4 June 1927.
There is not now (nor has there ever been) a sound like the Philadelphia Orchestra under Leopold Stokowski's direction. The great players, arrangements, the free bowing all added up to a massive, etherial sound, never duplicated. Then of course, there is Leopold. Vain, pretentious, egotistical...until he raises his hands and God speaks through the music. Thanks for posting this.
Considering this was recorded over 80 years ago, the sound is simply amazing! No doubt that has more to do with Stokowski's care in the recording process - as well as to the excellence of the Philadelphia orchestra - than anything. Many thanks for this upload!
Stokowski orchestrated this piece and recorded it more than once. This is a great performance and I wish there was a way one could upload it without a break but the current limits of medium prevents that. Thank you for taking time to upload this performance.
immenso, che meravigliosa interpretazione
musighitta 10 months ago
Superb; essential. Nothing more need be said!
Wish I could have heard Stokowski conduct live!
blazingmaple 11 months ago 2
0.o what?!
It skips at 5:34! D:
RICKROLLBLENDER 1 year ago
been looking for a copy of this for AGES!
its very hard trying to find a GOOD, clean copy in australia!
RICKROLLBLENDER 1 year ago
@mattleemattlee123 as a violinist, free bowing = unleashing the flood gates, it's awesome >=)
Marindo 1 year ago
@mattleemattlee123 Great artists have every entitlement to be "vain, pretentious, and egotistical".
Really, why should genius be in any way obliged to conceal either its abilities, or its awareness of its abilities?
polymath7 1 year ago
There is not now (nor has there ever been) a sound like the Philadelphia Orchestra under Leopold Stokowski's direction. The great players, arrangements, the free bowing all added up to a massive, etherial sound, never duplicated. Then of course, there is Leopold. Vain, pretentious, egotistical...until he raises his hands and God speaks through the music. Thanks for posting this.
mattleemattlee123 1 year ago 2
Considering this was recorded over 80 years ago, the sound is simply amazing! No doubt that has more to do with Stokowski's care in the recording process - as well as to the excellence of the Philadelphia orchestra - than anything. Many thanks for this upload!
willissuperb 2 years ago 2
Stokowski orchestrated this piece and recorded it more than once. This is a great performance and I wish there was a way one could upload it without a break but the current limits of medium prevents that. Thank you for taking time to upload this performance.
Neishapour 3 years ago 2
Excellent recording. Thank you for posting. Paul.
tHEnOOSEsWING 3 years ago