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