Wagner/Stokowski
Wagner/Stokowski
Symphonic Syntheses
(avg)
Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: José Serebrier
Label: Naxos
CD No: 8.570293
Hailed as one of the 20th century's greatest conductors,
Stokowski's 70-year career included Wagner in programmes from
his first performance in 1907 to his late appearances at the age of
95. In particular, he admired Wagner's Tristan and Isolde for
it's 'supreme expression'.
Stokowski was famed for his remarkable orchestral sound, so it
seems fitting that José Serebrier - hailed by Stokowski as a
'great master of orchestral balance' at the age of only 21
- should conduct Stokowski's work.
Stokowski's 'symphonic syntheses' - described as
'extended symphonic poems' - brought works by composers
such as Wagner to the concert repertoire without detracting from
the wealth of imagery and emotion present in Wagnerian
compositions. This particular recording contains a mixture of
Wagner's own concert versions of works like the Prelude and
Leibestod from Tristan and Isolde seamlessly incorporating
Stokowski's synthesis of Liebesnacht.
The atmospheric opening from Das Rheingold - the entrance of the
Gods into Valhalla - sets the tone beautifully with glorious brass
lines and an ever-present sense of balance and subtlety, for which
both Wagner and Serebrier are famous. Throughout the recording the
sense of emotion and, more importantly, the story are not lost for
the lack of words, with each scene performed fantastically by the
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Of particular merit is act III from
Parsifal, in which the story is conveyed particularly well. The
journey is rounded off with the ever-popular Die Walküre: Ride
of the Valkyries, glorious as ever and a perfect ending to a
fantastic CD.
A definite must for all fans of both Wagner and orchestral
performance at its best. Marie Frances Hopkins
This review was submitted by a Muso reader and the opinions
expressed reflect solely the opinions of the writer, not those of
Muso magazine or its publisher. Muso cannot guarantee the accuracy
of any information provided
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