The Golden Age of and the Philadelphia A Centenary celebration by John J Davis (Torbay RMS)

N OCTOBER 11th Who, I wonder, has not seen and wallowed in 1912, the 30-year- Walt Disney’s Fantasia? This film came about O old Leopold through a chance meeting of Disney and Stokowski in Stokowski – that was his a Hollywood restaurant, surely one of the greatest real name, I have a copy happenings in the audio/visual world of that time. (I of his birth certificate - was amused to see an American advert for a re-run of raised his baton to conduct this film with the slogan: ‘FANTASIA WILL his first concert as AMAZE YER!’). Principal Conductor of the Stokowski was, of course, an acoustic expert. Philadelphia Orchestra, Indeed, said that it was Stokowski who commencing with the invented hi-fidelity! Back in 1931, in collaboration Overture Leonora No. 3 by Beethoven. This with Bell Laboratories, Stokowski experimented with appointment had been very much influenced by a stereo recordings, as well as making a very close concert pianist of the time, one Olga Samaroff (later study of the world of acoustics. Stokowski would to become Stokowski’s first wife, although I’m sure reseat the orchestra in different positions in order to he didn’t wish to be associated with her maiden produce the very best end product. He was obsessed name: Lucy Hickenlooper!). Stokowski soon set with the deep bass sonorities that helped create the about raising playing standards: copious firing, impressive ‘Stokowski sound’. followed by hiring some world-class players, like the In 1936 was appointed Principal flautist William Kincaid with his platinum Conductor, but Stokowski stayed on until 1941, instrument, and also the French oboist Marcel concluding with a performance of Bach’s St Matthew Tabuteau. They were each to become section leaders Passion, with no applause; incredible after three in the Phil for 39 years. decades at the helm. 19 years later Ormandy invited Stokowski’s major achievements are legendary, Stokowski back to Philadelphia. The expectation was but he really came onto the world scene with the truly justified, with a standing ovation before the first American premiere of Mahler’s huge Symphony No. concert and Stokowski only able to start with a wave 8. Having travelled to Munich in 1914 to obtain down and proclaiming: ‘As I was saying 19 years ago performing rights - he was still a British citizen - he …’ He then launched into his beloved and colourful was almost caught by the Germans but escaped into repertoire such as Respighi’s , Holland with the score intact. Two performances Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 and Falla’s El Amor were planned with over 1000 musicians, but such was Brujo, the American premiere of which he had given the demand that nine concerts were given in in Philadelphia back in 1922. Philadelphia with another in New York. Stokowski On April 10th 1981, I was the guest of the had arrived, BIG and BOLD. management of the Philadelphia Orchestra in its then As well as the Mahler, Stokowski gave the home, the Academy of Music in Locust Street, American premieres, in Philadelphia, of Widor’s Philadelphia. I was given a conducted tour by their Symphony for Organ and Orchestra, Op. 42 - this General Manager, one Josef Santarlasci, including took place in the Sam Wanamaker department store examining the Aeolian-Skinner organ behind the with its huge organ boasting over 26,000 pipes! - stage - I’m an ‘organ buff’. This was followed by Mahler’s , Shostakovich’s being taken onto the podium and left alone for a while First, Third and Sixth Symphonies and Stravinsky’s to meditate, standing on the spot where Stokowski Rite of Spring. The premiere of Schoenberg’s had made history. I was in absolute heaven as I was Gurrelieder was followed by the world premiere then allowed to sit in Stokowski’s chair in the recording of this work in 1932. Other Stokowski conductor’s room. A day to remember and I realised premieres included the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh that I had reached Utopia at last! Symphonies of Sibelius. Further significant world Food for thought: what makes a superb orchestra? premiere recordings included that composer’s Fourth In my opinion an inspired conductor who stays in Symphony, which some listeners find enigmatic, and position for many years: Boston and Serge two years later his with Jascha Koussevitzky; Cleveland and ; Heifetz, although Heifetz would not allow its release. Concertgebouw and Willem Mengelberg; Rachmaninoff was very much to the fore in and Fritz Reiner; Berlin and Herbert von Stokowski’s repertoire, bringing yet more world firsts Karajan (if you go for him!); Hallé and Sir John including a performance and recording of the Barbirolli; Leningrad and ; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with the composer Philadelphia and Eugene Ormandy. There are many as soloist. This recording took place on the same day more. However, Stokowski’s appointment has to be as the Sibelius Violin Concerto: Christmas Eve 1934, included because he made the world sit up and take a very special day in recording history! notice for three decades in his very individual way. I Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 3 and Three Russian wish to share this outstanding centenary date of an Folk Songs (dedicated to Stokowski) also had their incredible partnership with all like-minded music world premieres in those heady Philadelphia days. lovers. ● 24