Tchaikovsky, Pyotr - Nutcracker Suite / Capriccio Italien

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London Philharmonic Orchestra / Leopold Stokowski

Revealed on this album is a 1973 recording of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a, Capriccio Italien, Op. 45 and Polonaise and Waltz from Eugene Onegin, Op. 24, performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Leopold Stokowski. This legendary British conductor of Polish and Irish decent has been one of the leading music directors of the first half of the 20th century. During his 60-year conducting career he was a great advocate for contemporary composers. He became known for his appearance in the 1940 Disney animated film Fantasia and even more so for his long-lasting relationship with the Philadelphia Orchestra, which he developed into one of America’s leading orchestras. However, his greatest achievement in conducting may well have been the creation of the so-called ‘Stokowski sound’, a combination of ‘free bowing’ for the string section, ‘free breathing’ for the brass section and conducting without baton, which resulted in a very warm and free orchestral sound. This release gives the perfect opportunity to experience the legendary ‘Stokowski’ sound.