Leopold Stokowski

The figure of the conductor as showman reached a 20th-century pinnacle in Leopold Stokowski, whose theatrical manner, exotic accent and celebrity lifestyle popularized for some, and obscured for others, his prodigious gifts as an inspired trainer of orchestras and interpreter of the most varied range of music. With an exceptional ear for orchestral tone and balance, he created the instantly recognizable “Philadelphia sound” over his many years with that orchestra, while applying his talents for orchestration and arrangement to works by composers from Bach to Mussorgsky. He was a prolific recording artist and tireless champion of new music, and conducted the US premières of many significant works, including Berg’s Wozzeck.