Artist(s): Conductor – Leopold Stokowski
Orchestra – Symphony Of The Air And Chorus
Recording Info: Released by RCA 1961
Engineer – Lewis Layton
Producer – Peter Dellheim
1 Tannhauser: Overture And Venusberg Music 25:00
Cello – Harvey Shapiro
Chorus Master – Margaret Hillis
French Horn – Ralph Froelich
Viola – Arthur Granick
Violin – Marilyn Wright
2 Die Walküre: Act III: Ride Of The Valkyries 5:42
Contralto Vocals – Louise Parker
Mezzo-soprano Vocals – Betty Allen, Doris Okerson, Regina Sarfaty, Shirley Verrett
Soprano Vocals – Carlotta Ordassy, Doris Yarick, Martina Arroyo
3 Tristan And Isolde: Prelude To Act III 10:08
English Horn – Henry Schuman
4 Das Rheingold: Entrance Of The Gods Into Valhalla 7:58
Contralto Vocals – Louise Parker
Soprano Vocals – Carlotta Ordassy, Martina Arroyo
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Stokowski and opera
Belle anthologie. La direction de Stokowski est flamboyante. Comme pour Mravinsky, Celibidache et Mengelberg, on peut regretter qu’il n’ait pas mis ses talents de chef au profit des maisons d’opéra, exception faite de son exécution de Turandot au Met.

An odd Shaded Dog
An unusually distant orchestral perspective is adopted here - Chandos plus a bit more... the result is superbly clear, transparent and focussed - but also rather thin, bass-light and lacking in dynamics. And the music? Stokie is Stokie, as always of course. He doesn't much around too much on this one, and the result is often thrilling in this bunch of Wagner 'bleedin chunks'.

Pleasant experience
I am always surprised what can came out of old master tapes and to enjoy ancient performers.

The Sound Of Stokowski And Wagner
great interpretation of great music.

A nice Lewis Layton recording -- if you like Stokowski, you will like this
Another nice transfer from HDTT -- the sound quality is quite good, with a very good recording from the always reliable Lewis Layton. If you like Stokowski, you'll like this recording. I’m not a fan of Stokowski’s “listen to what I can do” way with the music, and he gets a bit more carried away with himself in this performance than in some others. This is Stokowski performing Stokowski, not Wagner, imo. YMMV. So, five stars for the recording and tape transfer, but four stars overall. Still, nice playing from the orchestra (though with somewhat weak soloists), good definition and impact in the overall sound quality, and an excellent transfer from the source tape. This one will all be very much a matter of personal taste, so listen to the samples for the performance to see if it's your cup of tea.
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