Stokowski, << stuh KOW skee, >> Leopold (1882-1977), was a flamboyant and somewhat controversial conductor. During his long and influential career, he extended the range of music played by symphony orchestras. He worked to improve the quality of recorded sound and to bring music to more people. He conducted the Philadelphia Orchestra in the Walt Disney animated film Fantasia (1940), which spread his fame beyond the music world.
Stokowski was born on April 18, 1882, in London. He moved to the United States in 1905. In 1909, Stokowski became conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. From 1912 to 1938, he was chief conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, sharing the last two seasons with Eugene Ormandy. In 1962, he founded the American Symphony Orchestra of New York City. Some criticized him for tampering with musical scores to suit his own ideas, but few questioned his technical skill. Stokowski died on Sept. 13, 1977.
