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TOSCANINI...THE MAESTRO (TV)

Summary

Hosted by Metropolitan Opera music director and conductor James Levine, this detailed portrait explores the life and career of the famed conductor Arturo Toscanini. Through archival footage and photographs, narration, interviews, and Toscanini family "home movies," the documentary offers a thorough, intimate profile of the maestro, exploring his artistry and technique as a conductor, his political beliefs, and his personal life. Among those interviewed in the program are musicians from the NBC Symphony Orchestra and The New York Philharmonic who share their memories of working with Toscanini, including violinists Edwin Bachmann and Philip Frank, double bassist Martin Bernstein, timpanist Saul Goodman, bassoonist Leonard Sharrow, violists Milton Katims and Frank Breiff, and cellist Alan Shulman. Also interviewed are baritone Robert Merrill; sopranos Licia Albanese, Bidœ Say‹o, Jarmil‡ Novotn‡, and Herva Nelli; and the maestro's grandson, Walfredo Toscanini, who describes his grandfather's family life. Topics covered include Toscanini's unparalleled contributions to the art of conducting; his birthplace, childhood, and musical training; his efforts to improve and "guard" the quality of opera production; his time conducting the Metropolitan Opera in the early 20th century; his affair with singer Geraldine Farrar; his post-World War I conducting career at La Scala; Italy's postwar social and economic upheaval; Toscanini's strong anti-fascist sentiments and his difficulties with the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini; his close relationship with the family of the late composer Richard Wagner and his acclaimed performances of the composer's work; his conducting engagements with The New York Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic; his 17-year tenure with the NBC Symphony Orchestra; his return home to postwar Italy to conduct at the refurbished La Scala; his emotional, farewell public appearance in 1954 with the NBC Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall; his protegŽ Guido Cantelli; and his retirement years, declining health, and eventual death in 1957. Included is footage of Giuseppe Verdi's funeral; Toscanini conducting various works, including the overture to Verdi's "La Forza del Destino"; Italy during World War II; and Toscanini's funeral.

(This program also aired as part of the PBS series "Great Performances" on March 19, 1989.)

Details

  • NETWORK: Bravo
  • DATE: November 30, 1984
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:59:28
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:08313
  • GENRE: Music
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Biography; Conductors (music); Funerals; La Scala (opera house); Music - Analysis, appreciation; Operas - Excerpts; Orchestral music; World War I; World War II
  • SERIES RUN: Bravo - TV, 1985
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Robert Weisberg … Executive Producer, For Bravo
  • Pat Schonfeld … Coordinating Producer, For Bravo
  • Peter Rosen … Producer, Director
  • Martin Bookspan … Co-Producer
  • Harvey Sachs … Writer
  • Walfredo Toscanini … Advisor
  • Robert Hupka … Toscanini photographs by
  • Arturo Toscanini … Conductor
  • Alexander Scourby … Narrator
  • James Levine … Host
  • Licia Albanese
  • Edwin Bachmann
  • Martin Bernstein
  • Frank Breiff
  • Guido Cantelli
  • Geraldine Farrar
  • Philip Frank
  • Saul Goodman
  • Adolf Hitler
  • Milton Katims
  • Robert Merrill
  • Metropolitan Opera
  • Benito Mussolini
  • NBC Symphony Orchestra
  • Herva Nelli
  • New York Philharmonic, The
  • Jarmila Novotna
  • Bidu Sayao
  • Leonard Sharrow
  • Alan Shulman
  • Giuseppe Verdi
  • Vienna Philharmonic, The
  • Richard Wagner
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