Preview: Stokowski's Demented Tchaikovsky Fourth and His 10 Best Recordings

I was extremely lucky to have been at the performance in New York City with the American Symphony Orchestra of Stokowski Tchaikovsky 4th. Sitting in the front row next to the timpani, drums, percussion. Could not believe my ears! It was an orgasmic experience! After the performance and a bonus Encore of Scriabin the Maestro said he will be recording the work the following day! (This is the Vanguard recording). Amazing, truly amazing.

How thrilling that you chose the "reference" recording that you did -- what a surprise! The timpanist on that very recording was a wonderful friend and mentor of mine. He taught the former timpanist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, who dedicated some wonderful books to him, INCLUDING "how to play" this very symphony (Tchaikovsky, Brahms, etc.). Amazingly, I was asked to create & conduct an orchestral suite of favorite works this timpanist enjoyed for his very well-attended funeral, which I considered to be the honor of a lifetime. He introduced me to this symphony (& many others) as a member of his youth orchestra. How wonderful that you have honored him, in a way, by choosing his performance to show "how Tchaikovsky ought to be played."

So happy you're looking at Stoki...I'm the hugest Stoki nut... and I totally agree - his total conviction and utterly thrilling music making is what ultimately matters 💗😈

Yasss Dave, you make me look forward to Mondays, if you can believe me 😂

Simply GREAT video!! Informative and very entertaning! Thankyou!!

David... I love it. I remember hearing his recording of the 4th with the NBC Symphony Orchestra (I think) many years ago when I was first exploring Tchaikovsky recordings. I was mesmerised. Then I discovered the Vanguard recording... From the opening chords augmented with extra brass, you know you are in for a real treat. Great that you are covering his repertoire... 👍🏻

Excellent, Dave! I remember a rehearsal of Stokowski regarding free bowing, which was very unusual for the orchestra as they never used this free bowing technique with other conductors. He told to them „ Give them what they want. Give ME what I want!“

Great Content!!! I know - I was expecting it to be crazy fast but was 😮 when it slowed and then from out of nowhere sfzzzzzzz with ecstasy wallop followed by wtf pulse Tam Tam over thank you mam. If I was in the audience I would have fallen out of my chair. Worth the price of admission I

That is just WILD! I love it!

Well, I always look forward to Tchaikovsky content on your channel, as he's my favorite composer. I guess in this case, even weird Tchaikovsky content. I seem to remember hearing once on YouTube, a recording of Stokowski, in which he did the same weirdness in the 1812! My favorite piece! With the random tempo changes, and the chorus at the end without the orchestra, and I don't even remember if there were cannon or not. Most unusual. EDIT: So I just went and searched for it and found two versions, both of which had cannons but only on the first volley of 5 and not at the end, and the second had the ending chorus with the orchestra coming in later, and random tempo changes, and he cut a few notes from the end on both, and the bells were rather overwhelming. It's just wrong in so many ways it's almost funny.

Ohh, that final acceleration was like stomping down fences in the abandon of a wild kazachok! Really crazy dynamics, but they DO pique the interest for both the conductor (duh) and the composer alike. I have heard a couple too many "safe" Finales to the Tchai 4th, and I am willing to appreciate this one for what it is - a personal take on a well-known piece. Really, if Stokowski was as inventive in most of his recordings, I'm going hunting for all of his recordings! Meanwhile, I also get the urge to clean my palate by listening to the 4th from, say, Markevitch.

Thanks for this very nicley put and much deserved stand for Stokowski.

Monday Madness... This made my day!

I have the High Fidelity magazine where a critic wrote his review of this recording as such: Stokowski is courting disaster, When he takes every "f" to mean "faster." He pulls phrases like taffy, The ensemble's all daffy, Distressing, indeed, from a master. Not sure who it was. Who was it?

This Tchaikovsky 4 falls under the category of redeemable chutzpah.

Can’t wait to jump over to Classics Today insider to see the full video as a dedicated Stokowski nutso. There’s one performance I really hope made your Top Ten - it rhymes with Shostakovich Shmeleven with Shmhouston.

What a different with Stokowsky 5th Sym! That's amazing.

I have the Stokowski Tchaikovsky Fourth with the Philadelphia Orchestra from the late 30s or early 40s. Even back then he was doing it exactly the same way in the coda.

thank you very mutch for your 10 selections of stokowski best recording...i approve your choice...stokowski is my best conductor...,since mutch mutch year i search all recording of this conductor...with him , this is very ecxiting and interessting to listen a music,,,,so,i want.. if you want, to give to you my choice of five best recording of stokowski,who i listen mutch and mutch time with a real pleasure.......1...the swan of tuolenia ( sibelius) ( emi)...2.....bizet l'arlesienne suite ( cbs)...3...tchaikovsky,swan lake suite( london phase 4)....and finally..4,debussy the sunken cathedral ( la cathédrale engloutie)( london phase 4)....and my TOP.....stokowsky -mousorgsky, boris godounov-symphonic synthese ( london phase 4)

@10:57 reminds me of the way Curley of the Three Stooges used to laugh: "nyuck, nyuck, nyuck". I love this performance.