Stokowski Faure Requiem Riverdale Country Second rarest Stokowski LP
$
99
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Description
Unlisted in the discography by John Hunt or Oliver Daniel. This recording was privately made as a fund raiser for Riverdale Country School while Stokowski's son was attending. Stan Stokowski sang in the chorus. Stokowski never recorded the Faure Requiem commercially. The orchestra is a high school orchestra, but I suspect there may be a few semi-pros involved as they are really quite good. The chorus is obviously kids from the school, but again, pretty good. So what we have here is a school performance of the Faure conducted by one of the world's greatest conductors. Far from a "hack through" this is a very good performance with quite a bit of Stokowskian rubato and dynamic contrast. Very satisfying. Also included three other works Herbert Haslam's Chronos, Clarke's Trumpet Voluntary and the Stoki showpiece the Gliere Russian Sailor's Dance - the orchestra do their best. It's also obvious that Stoki did more than just show up and conduct, he rehearsed these pieces.
Very rare record. A few hundred pressings at most and originally given to pupils and parents at the school, one of whom was the source of my copy. They got these pressed somewhere that wasn't top quality vinyl (e.g. RCA or Decca) and therefore you're not getting silent surfaces. They were never that good, but they're not bad, think a rating of "EX" where the grades start at MINT, then Near Mint, then EX, then EX-. This LP shows no sign of being played except twice by myself. Sleeve is a bit worn with a split along the bottom for most of its length.
PS. Stoki mentions "Mr Rudie" in his letter thanking him. It seems he was the head of music at the school. But so much more - see here.... https://www.austinchronicle.com/arts/2012-03-23/robert-rudie/
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