LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI Conducts TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No.5.... (ROYAL ALBERT HALL Promenade concert recording, with unique Stokowski rehearsals for the performance.... There are unique photographs of the maestro with the orchestra) The 1973 INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA (Originally a double-LP album) Transferred to CD directly from the original Dolby A mastertapes..... One of the greatest conductors of all time, LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI was at the venerable age of 91 when he conducted the orchestra of over 140 musicians in the Royal Albert Hall to a full audience. He achieves a stupendous, most exciting performance from this young international orchestra..... As Edward Greenfield commented in his review in the Guardian "STOKOWSKI RALLIED THEM AS IF IT WAS A VINTAGE PHILADELPHIA CONCERT OF THE 1920s"..... The CD concludes with a rarity. The maestro agreed to the rehearsals for the symphony being taped, and this is the only recording ever made of him rehearsing Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony..... "The sound here is absolutely excellent and the performance is riveting. The drum roll into the finale is stunning. Listening to Stokowski's rehearsal comments...it is fascinating to hear the orchestra change it's sound to Stokowski's instructions". From a 5 star rating from Classical.net