Arturo Toscanini - (Amadeus) by Mortimer H Frank (Hardcover)

About the Book

A detailed volume on Toscanini's heroic 17 years conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra, which he started at age 70. Includes archival broadcast recordings, repertoire lists, videography and a discography. 34 photos.

Book Synopsis

Arturo Toscanini: The NBC Years details Toscanini's magnificent and heroic 17 years (1937-1954) conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra. The archival broadcast recordings documented and reassessed in this lively account comprise the most complete recorded legacy of Toscanini's orchestral conducting career. The broadcast recordings include his readings of many scores for which he left no approved recording, and his NBC career included performances of works he never conducted before coming to the network. The concerts and the broadcasts were immensely popular, and for generations Toscanini's name became synonymous with conducting. His legendary art and fiery personality also engendered controversy that has yet to subside, but this account takes on the challengers, accepting neither hero worship nor criticism that ignores the evidence.

About the Author

Mortimer Frank has a long and distinguished history as a music critic and journalist. A longtime contributing editor to Fanfare, he has written on music and literature for Opera News, International Record Review, Schwann-Opus and The Chronicle of Higher Education. His published reviews and articles total over 500. He compiled and edited James Huneker on Music and Musicians and has also served as historical recordings critic for National Public Radio. He has been honored with a Mellon Fellowship and a Grammy Award. Professor emeritus, City University of New York, Frank holds an M.A. in musicology and Ph.D. in English. He currently teaches at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City.Arturo Toscanini: The NBC Years has been in the making for 14 years. Frank's fascination with Toscanini started even earlier, in his twenties, stimulated by Toscanini's recordings of Beethoven. Frank went on to acquire all of his recordings and to read as much about the conductor as possible. Frank was a strong force in the creation of the Toscanini archive at Wave Hill, the maestro's New York home from 1941 to 1945, and he later served for many years as the curator of the archive. In that capacity he organized symposiums devoted to the conductor and was a consultant for the television broadcast and subsequent video Toscanini: the Maestro.Mortimer Frank is a life-long New Yorker, and currently lives in Yonkers. He enjoys photography; his photos have been exhibited and published, including once on the cover of Opera News.