Search - Igor Stravinsky, Leopold Stokowski :: Stravinsky: L'Histoire du Soldat [Hybrid SACD]

A Stokowski classic, ranking with the best

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 12/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I bought this performance on LP in 1967, I remember that it came as two discs, one narrated in French, the other in English. Here we have the English only, whereas the original CD issue had the French only. Jean-Pierre Aumont is a matinee-idol Solider, the famous baritone Martial Singher a militant Devil, and Darius Milhaud's wife, Madeleine, a theatrical narrator holding everything together. (It's welcome to hear a female voice since the only other woman's part, the Princess, is silent.) Stokowski conducts with surprising lack of mannerisms, often a bit slowly and with touches of melancholy. The musicians are a collection of top New York free lancers. All in all, this is one of the classic recordings of L'histoire, and since the composer recorded only the suite, I'm grateful to have this exceptional account."

A brilliant performance, a great recording

Nicholas Edwards | Belchertown, MA United States | 12/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have loved this piece ever since I was very young (my Dad gave me the great recording by Tashi - Serkin, Stoltzman, Kavafian et al - a record you can no longer get, un-fortunately). But Stokowski presents the music in its original orchestration, at EXACTLY the correct tempi. The narration and dialogue are rendered in a manner we might - were it not an ananchronism - call Brechtian. The overall result is a tense, gripping reading. And the Stereo recording is magnificently produced - the new remastering for SACD makes it sound like it

was recorded last week, instead of nearly forty years ago. Let us hope that Koch will continue to undertake reissues of this caliber. If you are interested in Stravinsky, Stokowski, or this piece, you shoul not miss this disc. One of 2004's best!"