Here's something you might be interested in.
If there was a conductor who welded the 19th and 20th Centuries together, it was Arturo Toscanini. Born in 1867, Toscanini lived until 1957. He died shortly before his 90th birthday.
At 19-years-old, Toscanini was the principal cellist in an Italian opera company which was touring South America. Given only a moment's notice, Arturo was called upon to step in and conduct Verdi's Aida.
He conducted it from memory.
In Italy, Toscanini conducted the world premieres of Pagliacci and La Boheme during the 1890's. However, what set Toscanini apart from other Italian conductors of his day was his aptitude with German composers.
He conducted the Italian premiers of almost every one of Wagner's operas. There are some who still consider his recordings of Beethoven's Symphonies to be the benchmark to which all others are compared.
When Mussolini came to power, Toscanini refused to start his concerts with the fascist anthem Giovinezza. In return, Mussolini took Toscanini's passport, tapped his phone, and kept him under surveillance.
When the war started, Toscanini left Italy for the United States. Some look upon him as a heroic anti-fascist. Others have the opinion that Toscanini would not suffer anyone telling him what to play in his house (La Scala).
During his lifetime Toscanini received almost universal acclaim. More recently he has become the subject of revisionist critics. Some claim Toscanini and his career in the United States was a detriment to American Music.
That position is silly. When put into context, Toscanini was a world class conductor and innovator.
He was the first to have the house lights dimmed for opera. He premiered Barber's Adagio and Puccini's Turandot and a litany of other works.
Toscanini also continued to raise the standard of musicianship in orchestras around the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQnjvjPoWvc&feature=youtube_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Mt7NIPFgQk&feature=youtube_gdata_player
If there was a conductor who welded the 19th and 20th Centuries together, it was Arturo Toscanini. Born in 1867, Toscanini lived until 1957. He died shortly before his 90th birthday.
At 19-years-old, Toscanini was the principal cellist in an Italian opera company which was touring South America. Given only a moment's notice, Arturo was called upon to step in and conduct Verdi's Aida.
He conducted it from memory.
In Italy, Toscanini conducted the world premieres of Pagliacci and La Boheme during the 1890's. However, what set Toscanini apart from other Italian conductors of his day was his aptitude with German composers.
He conducted the Italian premiers of almost every one of Wagner's operas. There are some who still consider his recordings of Beethoven's Symphonies to be the benchmark to which all others are compared.
When Mussolini came to power, Toscanini refused to start his concerts with the fascist anthem Giovinezza. In return, Mussolini took Toscanini's passport, tapped his phone, and kept him under surveillance.
When the war started, Toscanini left Italy for the United States. Some look upon him as a heroic anti-fascist. Others have the opinion that Toscanini would not suffer anyone telling him what to play in his house (La Scala).
During his lifetime Toscanini received almost universal acclaim. More recently he has become the subject of revisionist critics. Some claim Toscanini and his career in the United States was a detriment to American Music.
That position is silly. When put into context, Toscanini was a world class conductor and innovator.
He was the first to have the house lights dimmed for opera. He premiered Barber's Adagio and Puccini's Turandot and a litany of other works.
Toscanini also continued to raise the standard of musicianship in orchestras around the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQnjvjPoWvc&feature=youtube_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Mt7NIPFgQk&feature=youtube_gdata_player