Arturo Toscanini

[zonaras83]

I am glad to read so many precise commentaries, this is so constructive!!

[shonnyno]

I were happy to hear Nello Santi, what means Nello Santi, video not found :(

[shonnyno]

.yo***be.com/watch?v=pVt9vyrut­Ew&feature=related



[Sk83rSinderella]

Brilliant. Pure preparation of the orcjestra.....and self preperation of the conductor. Toscanini will live forever

[SocietyFoundation]

2:53 ...that's supreme control of your performers. This man gave us the closest approximation to what the composer heard in his head when the music was first created. Conducting at its best should make any composition sound like it is been created as we hear it and Toscanini did just that. "Per Toscanini bisogna sempre togliersi il capello, sia come uomo che come musicista".

[SocietyFoundation]

2:53 ...that's supreme control of your performers. This man gave us the closest approximation to what the composer heard in his head when the music was first created. Conducting at its best should make any composition sound like it has been created as we hear it and Toscanini did just that. "Per Toscanini bisogna sempre togliersi il capello, sia come uomo che come musicista".

[austin0031]

Is there a video of this performance that doesn't have Menuhin's comments interrupting it in the middle of one of the best parts?

[perfume444]

In those days...more cultivated days...

Boy ain't that the truth !

[aweitzer1]

wonderful...is it me or is his baton unusually large?!

[OldMrGrace]

@aweitzer1 Well observed. His baton was exactly 20 inches long - much larger than is generally seen today. In later years he had them made specially for him by his physician, of all people.

[SteveAndrewLangford]

@OldMrGrace I have seen that it was actually 18", but you know, 18"/20", what's the diff?

[jhb134]

@SteveAndrewLangford - "what's the diff?" is right, and AT could use BOTH hands, in differing ways. There was a "horizontal swirl" in certain passages, and a right/left hand, with baton, vertical movement, for increased emphasis ... depending-on the interpretation of the score. I still don't agree with his accelerations in certain transitions and/or tempos, but there's NO doubt that his NBC men could follow his "orders", with extraordinary response and technique. Unforgettable ...

[YTM021807]

I saw this video in YouTube about 2 years ago when there was no "HQ". !WOW! THE IMAGE made me see it again and completely. I dont know if there exists in some secret vault or library a better sounding master copy. But this is perhaps the closest document we may see and hear. It is superb!

[SPEEDYCARMINE60]

extraordinary director and musician!

[nycboyforlife]

Truly a conducting God. The one thing that bothered me about the camera work is the camera never showed th brass section. My father studied with Humberto Pennino who was second trumpet next to Harry Glantz but not sure either of them were still in NBC Symphony at this time.

[3NUNS]

@nycboyforlife Yes. On Tuesdays only.

[realscruffy]

what a beautiful flute!  who is him?

[kindin10]

@realscruffy

menuhin, a famous violinist.

[robvalentino]

Grande genio italiano.

Grazie Maestro.

Roberto Valentino.

[annanoli]

Toscanini knew a lot of great composers,but he had his own head.

He denied to Puccini the access to Boito's "Nerone" general rehearsal. He rejected Alfano first completion of Turandot.. After he was hit in the face by a fascist chief he left Italy nearly for good,coming shortly back in 1946,thence he went in USA again

[jmbliberty]

Too bad the video quality is so low, much jerkiness. This was a truly great man, and I want to see every movement, every flicker of subtlety of expression in his face and eyes - to look into the soul of greatness!

[ComposerInUK]

The quality might not be perfect but the 'soul of greatness' is still there. And it's amazing that Toscanini knew Verdi himself and played at the composer's funeral. What an astonishing link with the past. I never tire of seeing this performance.

[FabioPBarbieri]

Signore Iddio onnipotente! Dagli accordi di avvio - mai cosi secchi, cosi potenti, cosi' furia del destino - questo e' migliore di qualunque esecuzione io abbia mai sentito. E il critico ha ragione - pace - sharply defined - potentissimo.

[LordMgls]

GREAT TOSCANINI!!!

[ipmoic]

This "idiot" was Yehudi Menuhin who I'm sure was asked to make the commentary contained herein.

Still, you make a valid point. Why not have had Menuhin comment before or afterwards?

Great performance. It sizzles and the strings are perhaps the greatest pound per pound EVER in a symphony orchestra.

[zuhur41]

Utterly awesome !!

[genetracy]

perfectto~!

[kindin10]

I would like to hear this without this idiot

[CyberNetherlands]

What a speed !!! So I think this old recordings are mixed in this documentary with to much speed ???

(Granddaddy) Cor

Netherlands

[annanoli]

Mmhh. Toscanini was well known to play fast tempos.

[uazaro]

Mai sentita così brutta

[tweetypat94]

Thank you so much for posting this! W Toscanini and his superb music!

[kindin10]

Who is the guy talking?

[tweetypat94]

The great violinist Yehudi Menuhin. In those years he still lived in the US.

[Trulyloyale]

Outstanding perfect interpretation of ouverture of "La Forza del destino" , exactly in the spirit Verdi meant the Opera !

Arturo Toscanini , the greatest music director of all times : only some who are absolute ignorant of music can't agree with such a clear truth , only some who are ignorant of music and have a culture level near to zero ......!

[PagaNiniFlorence]

Also, if you notice, he uses the left hand only when "mandatory", he doesn't make unnecessary gestures, which usually confuse the players rather than having benefical effects... but when he uses it, it really does have a meaning... there also are some sketches of Brahms conducting with his left hand resting on his back in a hieratic and severe pose...

[PagaNiniFlorence]

(->) and to do that, absolute control on gesture and intentions is required, to make all they ask seem normal and right, so you think "why didn't I thought of that before, it is so natural!"

[PagaNiniFlorence]

It is really evident that he had total, and I do mean total, control over the orchestra, but mainly and most importantly, over the piece and over his gesture... Sometimes directors are idolized for the fact that they *control* the orchestra (no political implications...). While it is definitely important, even more important is IMHO to communicate *to* the orchestra... The greatest rarely impose, they just make you think it should be "their way", and you do that almost on your initiative...(->)

[davidoves]

Este wey estaba bien pinche loco. Como me asombra. No sale de mi cabeza. Amo la Mùsica y amo a Arturo Toscanini, el legendario por siempre director de orquesta italiano.

[cwinger11]

What an amazing video! 1944! I'm not sure if there are any other videos that date prior to this when it comes to classical music. Toscanini is amazing to say the least. It's so cool to know that he got to meet famous composers like Verdi, Tchaikovsky, and Stravinsky. He lived to be 90 years old and lived from 1867-1957. It's neat to see a video of someone who's met so many famous composers.

[totalfreedom10]

thank for your contribute

Giancarlo

[olneymike]

Toscanini brings a passion out of the orchestra, particularly the strings, that is rarely obtained by most other conductors. I find myself so excited listening to this recording that it is hard to sit still.

[ludwigna78]

Esecuzione magnetica! Tempi azzeccatissimi!! Occorre velocità!

[apiopulcro]

Rime to tell the truhth, this version is out of tempo, overacted, overplayed, and with a the Toscanini's carrachteristic bad taste for music.

Scott Joplin wrote about his rag-time "toplay fast is not to play better"

Sorry for the passioned

[missrepo]

Geez Really what do you say to this .. Fantastic!! I love it!! Thanks for sharing..

[DonBasilio46]

I adore Toscanini, to begin with, but I cannot overlook some facts about this clip:

The tempo at the beginning is much faster than in any other conductor's performance I know. Is it in Verdi's spirit? I cannot say.

In the allegro brillante he's taking a tempo of 152, but still conducts in 4! Why? Again, I cannot tell. His focal point moves constantly from shoulder-high to below-waist. It certainly does not make it any easier for his players to follow, but they do follow devotedly anyway.

[rca44mic]

Toscanini actually, and in person---face-to-face---on more than a few occasions, spoke to and listened intently to Verdi's directions and wishes. Toscanini was not trained to be a conductor, he was trained as a cellist, but instinctively was able to communicate his interpretation of Verdi's music to an orchestra without using the traditional conducting techniques. Whether he conducts in 4 or not, his way which ostensibly is the right way, produced the fabulous sound that you appreciate.

[ipmoic]

What strings--never again. Recognize Mischa Mischakoff, first violinist and Frank Miller and Benar Heifetz-- the dynamic duo of first cellists. His woodwinds were much better at this period than in the later '40's.Does anyone know who the clarinetist was in this video? Duques?

[ValentinAmadeus]

Thank you very much for this video of the legendary Parma's magician.Incredible level of concentration and freedom.

[j72050]

Plays very well indeed? This is matchless perfection...these notes will not and cannot be played this way again...Toscanini belongs to the ages.

[joeocho88]

He interprets Verdi very well indeed.

[tarantel2072]

Thanks for the clip. What a WOW performance from a great maestro who worked with Verdi closely.

[fibesdrummer]

Notice there are no women in the group?

The orchestra sounds...more muscular

[CzarDodon]

That's the Toscanini sound, as Menuhin explains here. It would have been the same with an all female orchestra.

[YTM021807]

Very crisp video. Hard driven, colorful, dynamic, urgent, precise. Notice that the little finger also gives instructions to the orchestra! Yehudi Menuhin's spoken words adds to the importance of this great video.

[DANYGERARDO]

no me piace

[Alessandro1985]

One of the greatest men of all times!

[poldi24]

One of the greatest conductors of all times!!

[JimL1137]

It is a real gift to be able to see this clip of Arturo in his prime.