Sergei Prokofiev - The Ugly Duckling; Cinderella Ballet Suite (Leopold Stokowski)

Information

Composer: Sergei Prokofiev

• Prokofiev - The Ugly Duckling, Op. 18
• Debussy - Children's Corner, L. 113 (arr. André Caplet)
• Prokofiev - Cinderella, Suite from the Ballet with Excerpts from Op. 87, 107 & 108 (arr. Leopold Stokowski)

The Stadium Symphony Orchestra of New York

Leopold Stokowski, conductor

Date: 1960 / 2026

Label: Everest

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In this 1960 Everest Records release, Leopold Stokowski leads The Stadium Symphony Orchestra of New York in vivid performances of Prokofiev's The Ugly Duckling, Op. 18, and the Cinderella Ballet Suite. Captured using Everest's pioneering 35mm magnetic film technique, the audiophile recording delivers exceptional clarity and acoustic presence. The Ugly Duckling presents a poignant, fable-like tone poem centered on expressive vocal narrative, while the Cinderella excerpts balance waltzing elegance with intricate dynamic contrast. Stokowski’s distinctive command of orchestral color and expressive rubato elevates both compositions, yielding a highly dramatic, cinematically rich interpretation that highlights the conductor's narrative artistry.

Leopold Stokowski (1882–1977) was a British-born American conductor known for his flamboyant showmanship, the rich sonorities of his orchestras, and his influence as a popularizer of classical music. Stokowski gained an international reputation as musical director of the Philadelphia Orchestra from 1912 to 1936. He directed the New York Philharmonic from 1946 to 1950 and the Houston Symphony from 1955 to 1962; in 1962 he formed the American Symphony Orchestra in New York City. Stokowski made three films with the Philadelphia Orchestra, including Walt Disney’s Fantasia (1940).

High Resolution 24-bit / 96 kHz