WAGNER - TOSCANINI die meistersinger ouverture

[donlisciva]

Un grande direttore, attento e meticoloso, ma, al mio orecchio, completamente inadatto al repertorio tedesco. Rende meglio con altri compositori.

[foerster]

@donlisciva ogni orecchio è una opinione

[Allanfearn]

From all the stereotyping in these comments, you wouldn't guess, would you that one of the composers Wagner admired above all was Bellini, and that his ideal of endless melody was Italian-inspired, that the instruments he knew in his youth didn't sustain anything like as well as those of Toscanini's youth. let alone Furtwangler's middle age - oh, and that Wagner's own recommended timing for this prelude is very close to Toscanini's. Heilige Deutsche Kunst was a little different then.

[jhb134]

Geez, thanks for the great photos!! ... They complement the usual, excellent Toscanini way with a great part of music, in the inimitable way of the Italian (in the latter).

[MrTere00]

pessimo direttore, non so perchè lo considerano un grande. Tra l'altro era più nazista lui di Hitler e Mussolini.

[girklonik]

@MrTere00 Probabilmente è la tua ignoranza (mancanza di conoscenza) che ti fa giungere a tali conclusioni. Devi sapere che Arturo Toscanini è stato il più grande direttore d'orchestra del suo tempo, incontestabile anche dai numerosi critici dell'epoca. Aveva una memoria fotografica, dirigeva esclusivamente a memoria: oltre 600 esecuzioni di oltre 250 autori, con una battuta chiarissima.

[franco96544]

@MrTere00 fatti chiudere l'allacciamento che collega il tuo ano con la tua bocca tua e cervello: ci eviterai di leggere queste deliranti stronzate......peccato che la tua santa madre non approfittò della legge 194. dovevi morire da piccolo.!!

[myhappylife3782]

This is perfect rendering of prelude!

[raticida123456]

ooo very delicious version!! beautyful performance! i love this overture

[3NUNS]

Now that there is a debate going about how Toscanini is ir was we need to ask the basic question of how difficult it is to prepare an orchestra to play in ensemble this piece and then how hard it is to take that task into tghe area of artistry !

[billtanner53]

Da ascoltare in piedi.

[appman1138]

People say George Szell's interpretations are too stiff and ice cold, but he actually had ideas and musicality. Toscanini on the other hand is truly stiff, and manages to sound unpleasant even if played technically well. Nothing sounds lyrical and tone qualities are all abrasive. Wasted "perfection"

[billyguns2]

Toscanini never really excelled in the music of Wagner,; he completely failed to grasp the "big picture," subdividing beats all over the place and making downward accents; this for all the world sounds like Italian band music. He did excel in Italian music and I like his Beethoven (especially Symphony No. 6, which found him quite mellow); for Wagner, I turn to Furtwangler, Knappertsbusch and Karajan.

[safeinpants]

@billyguns2 That's a stereotype that diminishes Wagner's music by arguing that there's only one way to play it. Toscanini finds a lot in this music that Furtwangler didn't (and vice-versa, of course). In particular, the woodwind repeat of the Mastersingers' theme at 5:01 is really funny in Toscanini's hands, as it should be (this is a comedy, after all).

[billyguns2]

i'm only stating my considered opinion as a 30 + year professional muscian strong likes and dislikes; I know nothing about or care anything for "stereotypes," only trusting my own opinions and taste. Beecham and Ormandy also excelled in Wagner's music. and they weren't Germans. As to the comedy, listen to Klemperer's recording; he also excels in the other parts.

[Matteo7419]

@billyguns2 That's gorgeous... You know for sure that Winifred Wagner wanted Toscanini to conduct at Bayreuth Festival that she convinced Hitler to write him a letter of invitation... I assume she was convinced Toscanini was a good wagnerian (and, of course, a marvellous conductor), but I also assume you're so experienced that you can affirm she was wrong.

[billyguns2]

I really don't care what you think or what Winifred Wagner thought; there is no "right" and "wrong," only opinions, and I have never much cared for Toscanini's Wagner. I have repeatedly praised him as a great conductor many times, indeed, saying that he is one of the greatest of all time. I don't care for Furtwangler's Verdi either. Your are a self righteous, opinionated pain int he ass.

[Matteo7419]

@billyguns2 Nor I care what you think, 't was jut only to talk a little. Really unpolite, by the way. Stay with your pain in the ass.

[SatchmoSings]

@billyguns2 I don't know about "never" but this is not a good performance; there are important parts of this piece that require a very deliberate portamento and also some elasticity in tempo and Toscanini doesn't accomplish those things here; it's really not such a good performance and I happen to admire Toscanini a lot.

[ipmoic]

Does anyone know the date of this recording. Sounds like early 40's to me....

Lovely photo of Toscanini with the Wagner family. Toscanini adored Wagner but not what Hitler's Germany did with him.

Bravo cher maitre and Bravo foerster.

[saagua1953]

At the beginning of the video the year 1942 flashes across the screen.

[saagua1953]

Sorry I meant to write "1952" but I wonder about that.

[saagua1953]

1952 is quite possible since the orchestra was disbanded only in 1954 when Toscanini retired. So this recording would have been two years before his retirement.

[jmccracken1963]

I believe that this prelude was recorded in 1946.

[saagua1953]

This is marvelous; better even than Furtwangler. Better sound too.

[ahmshaegar]

I'm afraid I must agree... while keeping in mind that Furtwangler was not able to avail himself of superior technology... I will leave the criticism to those more well-versed in music than I.

All I can say is that I find Toscanini's mellifluous sound more appealing to these ears of mine.

It is a shame that the music of Wagner and his era is underappreciated in our time.

[play307]

No doubt Toscanini was best conductor 50 years ago ... But dont forget  Wagner .. 130 years ago .TheGermany opera composer and conductor is leading star of this overture.

[SatchmoSings]

@play307 50 years ago, Toscanini was already quite dead!

[cuccuannamaria61]

Strepitoso!!!!!!

[TERUKI26]

J'aime ce tempo.

[j72050]

Toscanini as usual...matchless perfection...these notes will never be played like this again...he belongs to the ages now......

[dragoncelloab]

toscanini rimane un evento unico,irripetibile. pietra milaiare della direzione d'orchestra e della musica in generale

[Matteo7419]

Alla faccia di Celibidache...

[zongorista]

It is fantastic!

"Imagine what a full Meistersinger would have sounded under the Maestro's relentless and controlled dynamism."

Toscanini has been the BEST CONDUCTOR!

Thanks for posting and nice pictures (in nice time)!

WHAT A GREAT MUSIC!

[wetland1955]

There is a full Meistersinger by Toscanini: 1937 Salzburg Festival. It has been available on CD, and may still be.

[YTM021807]

Imagine what a full Meistersinger would have sounded under the Maestro's relentless and controlled dynamism. Imagine the expression on Wagner's face hearing Toscanini conduct.

We are fortunate that Arturo did have the oportunity to have this conducted in High Fidelity.

[giloubreizh]

chez Toscanini, on ne sent pas la jonction entre chaque partie.

[joanabanyeres]

J'ai la vidéo et c'est très amusant car le micro doit se promener continuellement.

[giloubreizh]

au fait... c'était en quelle année?

[kimonosoft]

Excellent.

Malgré les tempi rapides. Aucune raideur.

très beaux plans sonores. Aucune fluctuation du tempo, malgré cela les passages plus lyriques sonnent et l'ensemble ne fait pas "pompier".

Majestueux Toscanini !!

[giloubreizh]

MAGNIFIQUE

[spaccapiano]

mitico Toscanini!

[goodmanmusica]

esecuzione eccezionale.

[WilfredIvanhoe]

One of the most magnificent versions I've heard. I like a slightly slower tempo though, but the phenomenal clarity despite the recording's old age more than covers that.

[mahlerichter]

Grandissimo Toscanini!!!!!!!

[giloubreizh]

on n'a rien fait de mieux depuis Toscanini en matière de direction d'orchestre : rigueur, maîtrise de la partition...

[madero111]

Oh yeah everyone, i feel you!

I remember a recording of William Tell with Arturo conducting the NBC and "how I remember" how he took the NBC Orch. through that storm scene.

I do believe that if given the chance Arturo Toscanini could have conducted electricity, safely too!

[ferdibella]

Can someone please upload the Toscanini NBC Orchestra recording of Rossini's William Tell Overture, especially the finale?  No one should miss this. Thank you.

[blaugrun67]

saftig und kräftig, satt, klar und brillant, auch "taktschlägerisch", so soll es sein. die version von Szell gefällt mir aber fast noch ein bisschen besser.

[anonymusum]

nun ja, eine gute Interpretation, ohne Frage. Nur sehe ich das romantische Element etwas vernachlässigt - Toscanini eben .....

[Wagnerian71]

Superb!!!

I have not listend to such great performance!!

[550ieccelsa]

Eccelso.

[himehimeko]

His conduct is great.

Perfect!!

[himehimeko]

great conduct.

I love his Wagner.

[kl122002]

His performances are as good as Furtwängler. It shell be ever.

[Sinfoniette]

Yes, it "shell" be ever!

[mrmz80]

Great performance!!! Toscanini was a great conductor, without doubt not less than Furtwängler or Karajan.. I like this performance of Die Meistersinger much more of other registrations!..

[stan724]

Toscanini made a national tour with the NBC Orchestra in 1950. I was in high school and got on a bus and went to New Orleans and heard his concert. One of the pieces was this Meistersinger Prelude, conducted magnificently, of course. I got back on the bus, rode all night and was in class the next morning. Cherished memories.

[SteveAndrewLangford]

@stan724 How did the Maestro and the Orchestra strike you?

[emmaviolinist]

yes this is good: at least as good as Furtwanglers preformance

[crazyjack876]

I believe this interpretation to be equalled only by Karajan. However, Toscanini's finale to this piece is outstanding!

[paulostroff99]

A very special conductor!Bravo.

[murraybowles]

Very very very good! BUT, he does conduct the melodies too much. There's more to listen to in Klemperer's (surprisingly similar!) performance. And no bogus meno mosso / stringendo near the end.

[toscaninizt]

Toscanini was brilliant. Imagine an 84 year old man at the helm of the overwhelming NBC orchestra; yet Toscanini handled it with ease and brilliance. There's alot of conductors out there that can't handle Wagners' peices because of its complexity. i can say without doubt that Toscanini did a brilliant job of interpreting Die Meistersinger. All the notes are sharply defined and detached yet still maintaining that brilliance to it. Toscanini even 5 years before passing away was perfect.

[maestroredal]

FANTASTIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[OYOBQ]

Can we consider Toscanini a Wagner specialist?

[lefemmerachael]

no.he was what he was!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[tenorismo]

The Overture is such a beautifull peice of music. The NBC plays wonderfully for him. Elias

[giloubreizh]

Quelle leçon! Il n'y a pas une imperfection! - Quelle rigueur ! Epoustouflant!... - Le legato, le phrasé... l'on ne sent rien... et tout y est! - DU PETIT-LAIT qu'on voudrait boire tous-les-jours

[7772399]

An excellent performance of Wagner's overture to "die meistersinger" (the Mastersinger) by the NBC Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Arturo Toscanini.

[ResidentEvil3030]

Excellent!!!

[j72050]

...with Toscanini, you feel you are in Bayreuth in 1931 when he conducted Wagner there......just matchless perfection

[marceloex]

great!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[YTM021807]

Glorious and awesome!

[derhawk]

best performance of this i've heard

[tatters1232006]

marvellous performance,marvellous playing