Toscanini, Arturo

Toscanini, Arturo
born March 25, 1867, Parma, Italy
died Jan. 16, 1957, New York, N.Y., U.S.

Italian conductor.

Toscanini entered a conservatory at age nine, studying cello, piano, and composition. He began his professional life as a cellist. After substituting for an indisposed conductor in Giuseppe Verdi's Aïda (Buenos Aires, 1886), he conducted in various Italian opera houses, giving the premieres of I Pagliacci (1892) and La Bohème (1896). He was appointed musical director of La Scala, Milan, in 1898, and of the Metropolitan Opera, New York City, in 1908. Principally known for his readings of Verdi's operas and Beethoven's symphonies, he also gave remarkable performances of the music of Richard Wagner. Toscanini conducted the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra from 1928 to 1936. In 1930 he became the first non-German to conduct at Bayreuth, but he stopped performing in Germany to protest Nazi policies. The NBC Orchestra was formed for him in 1937, and he conducted it until his retirement in 1954.

* * *

▪ Italian conductor
born March 25, 1867, Parma, Italy
died Jan. 16, 1957, New York City
 Italian conductor, considered one of the great virtuoso conductors of the first half of the 20th century.

      Toscanini studied at the conservatories of Parma and Milan, intending to become a cellist. At the age of 19, when playing at the opera house at Rio de Janeiro, he was called upon to fill in for the conductor and performed Giuseppe Verdi's Aida from memory. He came into prominence as a conductor in Italy and elsewhere and was appointed musical director of La Scala, Milan, in 1898, and of the Metropolitan Opera, New York City, in 1908. He conducted the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra from 1928 to 1936 and appeared with orchestras all over the world, except those of Italy and Germany during the Fascist regimes. From 1937 to 1954 he directed the NBC Symphony, an orchestra sponsored by the U.S. radio network.

      Toscanini became principally known for his readings of the operas of Verdi and the symphonies of Beethoven, and he gave remarkable performances of the music of Wagner. His interpretations were notable for detail of phrasing, dynamic intensity, and an essentially classical conception of form. His phenomenal memory stood him in good stead when, suffering from poor eyesight, he was obliged always to conduct from memory. He commanded from the artists who worked under him a devotion that often made them reach something like his own fervour.

Additional Reading
Joseph Horowitz, Understanding Toscanini (1987); Harvey Sachs, Toscanini (1978), and Reflections on Toscanini (1991).

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Toscanini, Arturo — ► (1867 1957) Director de orquesta italiano. Fue director de la Scala de Milán en 1898 1907 y 1921 29. * * * (25 mar. 1867, Parma, Italia–16 ene. 1957, Nueva York, N.Y., EE.UU.). Director de orquesta italiano. Toscanini entró al conservatorio a… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Toscanini, Arturo — (1867–1957)    One of the greatest orchestral conductors of modern times, Toscanini was born in Parma, where he studied at the conservatory. After a distinguished early career as a musician and conductor, he became the first director of Milan’s… …   Historical Dictionary of modern Italy

  • Toscanini,Arturo — Tos·ca·ni·ni (tŏs kə nēʹnē, tōs kä ), Arturo. 1867 1957. Italian conductor of the Metropolitan Opera (1908 1921), the New York Philharmonic (1928 1936), and many other orchestras worldwide. * * * …   Universalium

  • Toscanini, Arturo —  (1867–1957) Italian conductor …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

  • Toscanini — Toscanini, Arturo …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Arturo Toscanini — Toscanini redirects here. For other uses, see Toscanini (disambiguation). Toscanini in 1908. Arturo Toscanini (Italian pronunciation: [arˈtuːro toskaˈniːni]; March 25, 1867 – January 16, 1957) was an Italian conductor. One of the most… …   Wikipedia

  • Arturo Toscanini — en 1908 Naissance 25 mars 1867 Parme …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Toscanini — Arturo Toscanini Arturo Toscanini Naissance 25 mars 1867 Parme …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Toscanini — Arturo Toscanini Arturo Toscanini, 1908 Arturo Toscanini (* 25. März 1867 in Parma; † 16. Januar 1957 in …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Arturo Toscanini — Arturo Toscanini, 1908 Arturo Toscanin …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”