TCHAIKOVSKY
Symphony No. 4
SCRIABIN
Etude in C sharp minor (orch
Stokowski)
American SO/Leopold
Stokowski
rec April 1971, Masonic Temple, New
York
VANGUARD CLASSICS
OVC 8012
[47.32]
Amazon
UK £4.99 AmazonUS CDNow
After Golovanov's
Pathétique here is another far from safe approach
to Tchaikovsky. While Golovanov's Bohème disc is a revelation this
is much more variable. High hopes borne of some foreknowledge of the Stokowski
Stadium SO recording of Francesca and Hamlet were not exactly
dashed but neither were they utterly fulfilled. Stokowski accents, rolls
and burrs the music, pushes and decelerates and emphasises dramatic dynamic
contrasts. By comparison with my reference recording
(Mravinsky and Leningrad PO) the
Stokowski is extreme to the point of eccentricity. The least 'unusual' movement
is the scherzo. The finale takes the Stokowski character and accentuates
it by several orders of magnitude. Some moments are breathless (try the build-up
at 7.40) others ponderously stertorous (8.30 onwards). Stokowski's orchestra
is not the equal of the Leningraders. It is in the precision of attack and
ensemble that it seems to suffer though this more in the nature of a slight
smearing of the 'lens' than anything more serious. However it is noticeable.
The recording has a warmth that contributes to the soft focus and this survives
through the analogue tape's digital resurrection. The Scriabin bon-bon, as
arranged by Stokowski, suffers for the want of a great tune. The arrangement
probes but all the Rachmaninovian wizardry cannot ultimately disguise a pretty
meagre charm. Stokowski's personality dominates the disc. In this case, while
never dull, the end result fails to satisfy.
Rob Barnett
