Leopold Stokowski (Stokowski Leopold)

(1882-1977)
Born in London on April 18, 1882 (although he is sometimes called the year of birth 1887). His father's ancestors came from Poland, mother, apparently, was an Irish. Original music education Stokowski was in England, where in 1903 became organist at the Cathedral of St.. Jacob in Piccadilly (London).
Despite the lack of serious practice of the conductor, Stokowski in 1909 obtained a place artistic director of Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. In 1912, joined the Philadelphia Orchestra, where he was principal conductor until 1936, and turned the team into one of the best in the world (in particular was famous for his extremely soft, velvety sound). Stokowski admired for its commitment to new music, first in SShAispolnil most significant modern works such as Stravinsky's Sacre, and Berg's Wozzeck.

In 1940, Stokowski founded and headed the Pan-American Youth Orchestra. He was one of the conductors of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra (1949-1950) and artistic director of Houston Orchestra (1955-1960). In 1972 he returned to England in 1975, took his last appearance before the public. Stokowski died in Nezer-Uellop (Hampshire County) September 13, 1977.

Judgments about Stokowski musicians disagree: many admired his amazing virtuosity, others blamed for a free attitude to the author's text and its interpretation was considered bizarre and distort vision works. Stokowski early interest in the phonograph, and made so many records. Participated in the creation of several films, including Walt Disney's Fantasia (1940). Among its instrumentation - the well-known orchestral transcriptions of Bach organ works.