A celebrated performance conducted by Leopold Stokowski with the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Festival Hall, London, 14 June 1972.
Part 2 here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1P85n9uPzE
"Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune" by Claude Debussy.
Performed on the double occassion of Stokowski's 90th birthday, and 60th anniversary of his LSO debut. Though he conducted the entire program from that 1912 concert, it was this Debussy performance folks recall most memorably.
"Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune" was a specialty of Stokowski over the years, but he and his soloists surpassed themselves on this night, as you will see!
Christopher Palmer wrote in "The Musical Times" that "My most treasured memory of the evening is undoubtedly 'Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune', which received a reading of exceptional refinement with all the tensions and relaxations effortlessly and beautifully graded, and unerringly poetic solo work from all the woodwind. A flawless performance."
in "The Daily Telegraph" Peter Stadlen wrote "Stokowski's legendary hands, though batonless, are put to the strictest functional use. His angular, almost ungainly movements are the simple tools for some of he most masterly conducting the century has witnessed....by what seemingly incongruous flicks of the wrist did he promote the fabulously sensitve solos in 'Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune'? Never has lifelong global fame rested on more solid foundations."
adapted from the liner notes by Edward Johnson
Debussy: Prelude to "The Afternoon of a Faun"
Tags: Claude Debussy Stokowski faune après-midi flute solo oboe woodwind
