Arturo Toscanini

Intense Italian conductor, master of orchestral detail, and pivotal figure in 20th-century music.

Chronology: 1867-03-25 – 1957-01-16

Origins & Early Life

Arturo Toscanini (; Italian: [arˈtuːro toskaˈniːni]; March 25, 1867 – January 16, 1957) was an Italian conductor. One of the most acclaimed and influential musicians of the late 19th and early 20th century, Toscanini was renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orchestral detail and sonority, and his eidetic memory. He was at various times the music director of La Scala in Milan and the New York Philharmonic. Later in his career, he was appointed the first music director of the NBC Symphony Orchestra (1937–1954), and this led to his becoming a household name, especially in the United States, through his radio and television broadcasts and many recordings of the operatic and symphonic repertoire.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

== Biography == === Early years === Toscanini was born in Parma, Emilia-Romagna. His father was a tailor. He won a scholarship to the Parma Conservatory, where he studied the cello. Living conditions at the conservatory were harsh and strict. For example, the menu at the conservatory consisted almost entirely of fish; in his later years, Toscanini steadfastly refused to eat anything that came from the sea.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He joined the orchestra of an Italian opera company organized by Claudio...

Source: Wikipedia