Two rare and electrifying performances from Stokowski
Among the finest Prokofiev performances ever recorded
These rare recordings came up for review as part of a look at the world of “Private CDs” by Robert Stumpf II at Classical Net Review a few years ago, and in reading them one is immediately struck by his enthusiasm for both recordings:
…but the whole thing is worth it just
for the Prokofieff. This was recorded whilst the Maestro was on tour in
the USSR and is one of the most intense recordings ever. It is my
favorite and I am glad to have it on CD…
(On the 5th Symphony)
…Again, the Prokofieff makes this a
must have disc. Taken from the LP issued several years ago by the NYPO
this is the finest performance there is. The orchestra is inspired and
the sound is excellent…
(On the 6th Symphony)
Whilst I would dispute the sound quality of
the 6th Symphony, at least in its original incarnation (we were sent
1/4″ tape transcriptions of the acetates from the archives of the
Stokowski Society which are surely as good as anyone else is likely to
get), it’s certainly hard to argue against the general thrust of
Stumpf’s enthusiasm for both of these, and it’s a mystery as to why
Stokowski did not programme them more often.
As the Society’s Edward Johnson pointed out to me in his letter accompanying the masters, “Stokowski
gave the US Première of the Prokofiev 6th in 1949, and conducted it
four time altogether – on 24, 25 and 26 November and again of 4
December. This last performance was broadcast [the recording now issued]. It
was also the last time he conducted it! He only conducted No. 5 again
one more time – in 1967 with the American Symphony Orchestra.“
Mr. Johnson also enclosed notes by Stokowski on the 6th Symphony, written for the Philharmonic program:
Prokofiev’s SIXTH SYMPHONY is a
natural development of his immense musical gifts. It is in three parts –
the first moderately quick, the second slow, the third very animated.
The first part has two themes – the first in a rather fast dance rhythm,
the second a slower song-like melody, a little modal in character,
recalling the old Russian and Byzantine scales. Later this music becomes
gradually more animated as the themes are developed, and after the
climax of this development there is a slower transition to the second
part. I think this second part will need several hearings to be fully
understood. The harmonies and texture of the music are extremely
complex. Later there is a theme for horns which is simpler and sounds
like voices singing. This leads to a warm cantilena of the
violins and a slower transition to the third part, which is rhythmic and
full of humor, verging on the satyrical. The rhythms are clear-cut, and
while the thematic lines are simple, they are accompanied by most
original harmonic sequences, alert and rapid. Near the end a remembrance
sounds like an echo of the pensive melancholy of the first part of the
symphony, followed by a rushing tumultuous end.
I knew Prokofiev well in Paris and
in Russia, and feel that this symphony is an eloquent expression of the
full range of his personality. It is a creation of a master-artist
serene in the use and control of his medium.
From a technical perspective both
recordings have responded very well to XR remastering and restoration.
The 1958 Russian ‘studio’ recording is clearly more advanced than the
earlier radio broadcast, captured original on disc rather than tape and
taken from the radio feed (we’ve retained a very brief introduction and
pay-off from the announcer). Saying that, the older recording has
cleaned up remarkably well, and one quickly adapts to the slightly
reduced sonic resolution presented here. There were a couple of very
short drop-outs during the second movement of the 6th which have been
patched using surrounding material, and I’ve been able to tackle a good
bit of the typical higher-frequency surface noise found on acetate disc
recordings of this era to the extent that it’s rarely apparent to any
noticeable degree.
What was most unusual was the clear use of
some kind of primitive artificial reverberation at the end of the 5th
Symphony recording, heard during the decay of the final chord, which was
itself ‘chopped’ off early. I’ve removed this and attempted to
synthesize something a little more credible with what was left – it’s
certainly a lot less of a jolt than the original!
Overall this recording presents two rare
recordings by Stokowski that have the added benefits of being both in
excellent sonic order, and of the very highest performance standards!
Andrew Rose
PROKOFIEV Symphony No. 5 in B flat, Op. 100
USSR Radio Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Leopold Stokowski
Tchaikovsky Hall, Moscow, 15th June 1958, issused as Melodya MK 1551
Recorded
by Melodya during Stokowski’s 1958 Russian tour, early summer, 1958,
this was his only recording for the label and his only studio recording
of any symphony by Prokofiev. Following this tour he was to conduct this
symphony one more time only, in a 1967 concert with the American
Symphony Orchestra.
Transfer of original LP disc from the collection of Edward Johnson.
PROKOFIEV Symphony No. 6 in E flat minor, Op. 111
New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Leopold Stokowski
Carnegie Hall, New York, 4th December, 1949
First
US broadcast of this work, its fourth performance in the US – Stokowski
had conducted its US première on 24th November 1949, and programmed it
again on 25th and 26th November. There are no other recordings of
Stokowski conducting this piece – this was his final performance of it.
Reel-to-reel tape copy of original acetates from the collection of Edward Johnson, transfer by Andrew Rose
XR remastering by Andrew Rose at Pristine Audio, May 2009
Cover artwork based on a photograph of Leopold Stokowski
Total duration: 78:51
©2009 Pristine Audio.
