Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5; Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 8 Leopold Stokowski
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- Release Date: 02/22/2005
- Label: BBC LEGENDS
- UPC: 684911416527
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Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5; Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 8
About this Artist
Editorial Reviews
There is no doubt that Leopold Stokowski was sincere when he conducted Vaughan Williams "Eighth" with the BBC Symphony on September 15, 1964. Stokowski liked the "Eighth" and his performance is full of affectionate touches: piquant and colorful in the opening "Fantasia" and the closing Toccata, witty and warm in the central woodwind "Marcia" and string "Cavatina." Nor is there reason to question his credentials when he conducted Shostakovich's "Fifth" with the London Symphony two days later. Stokowski honored Shostakovich's symphonies with recordings going back to the '40s and this "Fifth" never lacks energy and enthusiasm, although it is perhaps a little too dry-eyed in the Largo and a bit too strong-armed in the closing Allegro non troppo to be entirely compelling. While any Stokowski fan will have to hear these performances, particularly in BBC's clean if dry sound, the listener looking for more idiomatic recordings of each work might try Mravinsky with the Leningrad Philharmonic for the Shostakovich and Barbirolli with the Hallé Orchestra for the Vaughan Williams. James Leonard, All Music Guide
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