Ottorino Respighi - Pines Of Rome (NBC Symphony / Toscanini - 1952 Telecast)

[@Bobbnoxious]

Toscanini was 85 years old here and on his feet, conducting without a score. How badass is that?

[@lwskiner]

He had Maynard Ferguson chops!

[@Mezzotenor]

He also pretty much plowed through this piece, keeping time in the 1st and 4th movements.

[@gaetanomariapiscopo5637]

You don't know so much about him...

[@All2Meme]

Toscanini was a colleague of Respighi in Italy in the early part of the 20th century, so I would imagine this is as close to how Respighi wanted it to sound without conducting it himself.

[@pablov1973]

He can´t read very clear at that age, he had a problem with his eyes, so, an score wouldn´t help him so much. Anyway, he had an amazing memory, he knew 103 operas from memory, and once he read a score he never forgetted.

[@CreationistConservtv]

My brother played the 1955 album recorded by the same orchestra, I was 5 in 1961... What memories, brings me to tears, he is 77 now, I am 10 years younger. All my musical tastes were developed by me listening to his music😅

[@barryjohnston9138]

One of the reasons why this is such an emotional performance was Respighi's key role in getting Toscanini and his family out of Italy before the fascists could come down on them. So, in a way, this performance and many others would not have happened without Respighi.

[@martywinick]

I was 10 when I saw this performance live on our newly installed 17” RCA tv. It captivated me then and still does today.

[@1fattyfatman]

17" was high style then!

[@keithreynolds3801]

Awesome. My favorite Classical Music composition of all time.

[@jayvigdior6844]

Amazing the way Toscanini carefully controls the dynamic nuances of the music with his left hand.

[@martyzielinski1442]

I think you’re imagining stuff......

[@fernandopasqualetti1845]

Impensabile oggi riascoltare in diretta una esecuzione così perfetta da qualsiasi Orchestra di livello mondiale diretta dal genio DIRETTORIALE quale quello del l'immenso Maestro TOSCANINI!!!!!!!!!! GRAZIE a chi ci ha lasciato una testimonianza irripetibile della genialità compositiva RESPIGHIANA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@RoccoXYZ1]

Assolotamente formidabile Il vero maestro DOC. Tutti gli altri saranno sempre a lombra. Lunico che si puo' chiamare maestro.

[@robinblankenship9234]

A real treasure of Western Civilization, in so many ways. Thanks so much for uploading.

[@francescoleo7573]

Straordinario, immenso Toscanini. Mai.vista una così perfetta sincronia tra gesto direttoriale ed esecuzione orchestrale. Ritengo Toscanini il più grande direttore del Novecento.

[@SergeLavoisier-ku1nn]

Oui c'est incontestable.

[@r.i.p.volodya]

TREMENDOUS performance of a TREMENDOUS piece!

[@nestoringles6679]

Toscanini, one of the very greatest, no doubt about that. A surprising excellent recording sound, btw.

[@davidparrish2534]

He never smiles.shakes hands with concertmaster or recognizes individual members of the orchestra

[@alexanderthompson2254]

Thank you for posting this, in such shockingly-excellent sound given the source and age. Brilliant composer, conductor, perfect handling. What a gift to live in an era where something like this can be rescued from obscurity and shared with the world. Bravo - !

[@hans-detlevv.kirchbach2787]

While I am sitting on the balcony in the setting sun, I let the recording run. At the end of the third movement (I pini del Gianicolo), when the birds - trained hard by Maestro Toscanini - began to intone, answered the blackbird, which has erected its palazzo in the tree opposite. The composer and the conductor would certainly have liked this kind of dialogue between the birds of Rome and their Cologne colleagues.

[@泉庄右衛門]

さ

[@alanmishael5013]

Simply stunning. A perfect few moments in time.

[@michaelboyd4233]

Via Appia has perhaps the greatest paced crescendo I've ever heard. Just when you think it's reached a maximum level there's another peak. And to be able to watch him conduct this piece which he has such a connection to is such a gift. Many thanks for posting.

[@denismorel5089]

Particularly clear in the tympani, which crescendoes, then subsides, then crescendoes again, and again... Another great Toscanini crescendo is Sunrise from the Grand Canyon Suite.

[@shin-i-chikozima]

It is worth listening to this masterpiece. This masterpiece is a inspirational poem

[@genekelly8467]

These old RCA recordings of Toscanini are great!

[@이정환-x7p]

지휘하는 모든 동작에서 단 하나의 불필요함도 없이 정확하게 오케스트라를 인도해내는 거장의 솜씨! 몸짓만으로로 소리를 바로 보여주는 거 같음. 지금봐도 여전히 대단하다. 그명성이 아직도 회자되고 로마의 소나무 명연으로 손꼽히는게 이래서지. 너무도 찬란하고 숨막히게 긴장감이 터지는 연주다.

[@glagolitic]

동의합니다 - 댓글 주셔서 감사합니다! Google 번역에서 - 오류가 없기를 바랍니다.

[@shin-i-chikozima]

Indescribable beauty Indescribable feeling Indescribable comfort and something indescribable This footage is a treasure This performance is unrivaled by any other performances Toscanini holds an unchallenged position as an interpreter of Respighi I deeply love the pines of the Via Appia

[@avvocatostyle]

He conducted Pini della Via Appia with his fucking ass

[@DMWill65]

Simply outstanding!

[@michaeljeran4941]

Fantastisch!

[@toddmichaelwillis]

My flute teacher, Paul Renzi, was in this orchestra!

[@Ciiiroo]

Ok

[@Charbanog95]

What memories about working with Toscanini? :)

[@armandogabba8966]

Even his Dad Paolo played as a oboist.great paisanos.cheers from Parma,Italy...i live about 1 block from Toscanini's birthplace

[@maurocoimbra9624]

What an honour!!

[@MurderbyGravy]

My trumpet teacher, Ray Crisara was in this orchestra!

[@michaelmcclary8054]

the Clarinet solo was played by my Best friend, John Scott, Professor Emeritus of Clarinet, University of North Texas

[@ellisfahrengart1069]

0:16 Borghese 2:49 Catacombs 9:31 Janiculum 15:40 Appian

[@clarisguate8293]

What a treasure this is

[@novagerio9244]

By the way, the piano part is played by Earl Wild!

[@scuunjieng]

wow many thanks and such excellent quality. deeply appreciated

[@MikesPOV]

Wonderful!

[@donaldwhittaker7987]

Good stuff. We need more of his videos.

[@776sopipa9]

It's an old video, but it's a great performance that doesn't make you feel old at all.

[@michaelmcclary8054]

Harry Milton Jacobs (French Horn)-Chicago Symphony was conducted by Toscanini in "the Pines of Rome - Michael McClary, Professor Emeritus of Trumpet 🎺, Georgia Perimeter College and GSU 😢❤❤🎉

[@shin-i-chikozima]

It seems I am in a Via Appia and I watching the glorious Roman Imperial Army marching majestically

[@jillferri1164]

So great to hear this. Thank you.

[@donaldallen1771]

I have owned Toscanini's recording of the Pines and Fountains since I was a kid and I"m pushing 80 now, hard. Not much to say about this that hasn't already been said many, many times. I will observe, though, that Toscanini, who professed to do what the score says -- no more, no less -- marches the army down the Appian Way at about 80 to the quarter note. Respighi asks for 66. Toscanini is 21% faster than the composer requested. It's exciting as hell, no question. But listen to Bernstein's 1970 performance with the NY Philharmonic. He's right at 66 and it's also exciting as hell -- the pulse gets more and more intense without ever wavering. I know this score pretty well and in my opinion, Bernstein is closer to the composer's intention, at least in the last mvt of the Pines. Toscanini had a famous dispute with Maurice Ravel. He conducted the first US performance of the Bolero quite a bit faster than Ravel's marked tempo. Ravel was in the audience and expressed his objection to the conductor afterwards. Toscanini said "it was the only way to save the piece". Ravel said "well, then maybe you shouldn't conduct it". Ravel grew up in the Basque region of France and knew this dance. He was also one of the rarest musical geniuses the human race has produced. I've listened to Ravel's own performance as well as Toscanini's. You can guess which one I prefer.

[@riccardoberlese6932]

Mi dispiace per lei ma anch'io posseggo il disco RCA dei Pini oramai da circa 60 anni (era appena arrivato in Italia dall'America) e posseggo, fra le altre, anche la versione di Bernstein ma il crescendo Toscaniniano è talmente terrificante da far oscurare tutte le altre versioni quindi................EVVIVA TOSCANINI

[@WilliamSilva-ml5nw]

I humbly give Toscanini a pass... no one is perfect!!!

[@jeffcutter7536]

Great performance

[@adriancook7078]

He is 85. He is on his feet the whole concert. There is no score and yet he controls the exact sound and texture of every single note. And thank goodness none of today's mezzoforte. Toscanini's sounds are real sounds that have life. something happens with his sound. A world of feeling and thought open up. It is alive. Today everything is the death of boring mezzoforte. Did you see how the cellists are working. You won't see that today.

[@loiclaronche5675]

Magnifico !

[@dmntuba]

FANTASTIC!!!!! 👍

[@TheLastOfTheFinest80]

Excuse me if I sound too blunt, but those were some studly ass trumpets in the final minutes.

[@massimolioy4955]

Bravissimo

[@Charbanog95]

Niente da fare: Respighi si deve suonare così!

[@spencersmith2798]

Wow...

[@joshdrums37]

Right? I’ve been checking out different versions of this the last few days and just came across this one. This is the one.... damn

[@lorenzosimpson8039]

@@joshdrums37 NOT BAD BUT CHECK OUT VON KARAJAN

[@Twentythousandlps]

The Toscanini telecasts began in 1948. This was the final piece on the last telecast.

[@hisa0hisa006]

No.1 Rome

[@ikmarchini]

Mannaggia! The sound is incredible, not like on the old Victrola reissues. An acquired taste? Like passion?

[@jeffhalferty843]

Alright I never post .... .how about how maestro O.rispigihi manhandle this piece with no score in front of him ,all by memory in perfect timing.... O.g. classic rock star stuff. God bless the whole orchestra et al

[@sergiokibizer8317]

O.rispighi? Il direttore era A.Toscanini.

[@michaelmcclary8054]

I agree with you ❤. Try "Russian Christmas Music by Alfred Reed w/Choir! Wow!!!!!- Michael McClary, Professor Emeritus of Trumpet 🎺, Georgia Perimeter College and GSU 😢❤❤🎉

[@seokjinyoon1424]

Great sound quality and great performance! Can you upload the Beethoven fifth video of the same concert?

[@glagolitic]

This will be going live in about half an hour. :)

[@seokjinyoon1424]

@@glagolitic Oh, thank you! 😁

[@NoName-qr5jg]

Ze mirari ikusgarria ! Respighi filmen doinueri dena eman zizkion.

[@michaelmcclary8054]

I'd love to see the Pantheon!

[@joestrike8537]

Interesting how the cameras never leave Toscanini - no shots of the individual orchestra members (all of whom seem to be men, by the way - I guess classical music was still a man's world back in the 50s)

[@gregorykayne6054]

Very much. But, there were some women already . And, they were great.

[@ronrogers5220]

In high school I nearly defected to our district rival because they were playing the Pines. My father would have none of it tho, he knew as a low brass player it would be a glorious gift I would get later in life, what fun it is to play...

[@jppitman1]

Indeed. One of my all time favorite memories to play this in a community orchestra. Our conductor told the trombones several times to just let it out. We did. Especially the climax. What a blast.

[@williamrubinstein3442]

The Catacombs is one of the all time great pieces. Ir should be played fast, as Toscanini is playing it.

[@arimahhhhhhhh]

凄い演奏技術

[@shin-i-chikozima]

ローマの松は心の清涼剤

[@MrInterestingthings]

So crazy 80 years ago these fast incredibly fast tempi. Feels like mechanized computers yet these composers and conductors were born before our ghastly clockwork perfection became common .Listen to this performance. I'm going to search for a 1930's performance . Toscanini's precision and ruthless time beating . One wouldn't think people born in the romantic era would be so driven and perfunctoy .Rach and Hofmann,Rubinstein's directness were new unlike Paderewsky and DePachmann and the old sentimental school but listen to the mechanical precision in the beginning . Even the pastoral 5th minute is not what one expects . Must find some earlier performances. Is his Beeth 6th Symphony this metronomic even though the phrasing is as clear and unfussy .

[@Dan6erous]

Toscanini and Respighi were friends and frequent collaborators. I'm going to accept Toscanini's tempi without question :)

[@Levanah10]

If you want a mid-1930s Toscanini performance: Find the 1936 recording of Beethoven's 7th, with the NY Philharmonic. Recorded over 2 days, all wonderful, but especially: the first 2 movements (1st day) are incredibly jaw-droppingly magical. --On KZbin here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnLYd4F9eLumnck The fellow who uploaded this version is a sound engineer who knows what he's doing...sounds even cleaner than my 1970s vinyl, or the original 78s for that matter.

[@AlexSzell]

17:54 don’t forget to cue trumpets

[@ВикторГрядовкин]

О Сколь нам Открытий Чюдных Готовит просвяшенья Дух АС Пушкин❤

[@pnocella]

A great performance! While Toscanini's face is undoubtedly quite expressive, more views of the orchestra "in action" might have been good, as well?

[@user-rn1lb8sx2c]

0:54 interesting how the trumpets flutter tongue it. And how times have changed where we multiple tongue it

[@JoanSmith-t7k]

At 14:45, cue the birds … 😊🙂

[@NishA-fv1eu]

2:25 excerpt 2

[@catdog-uz6gh]

mi pare che questa versione sia di gran lunga superiore alle altre. qui i pini di roma sono proprio una bella musica, in altre interpretazione sembrano solo un'arietta

[@ronaldwergin6719]

That sounds like stereo. Is this reprocessed mono?

[@francesco65esposito]

No ... it's a pseudo-stereo reprocessed monophonic recording; The only stereo recording (experimental) was that of his last concert in April 1954 with an entirely Wagnerian program; this recording, however, was later refused by Toscanini for its publication (although he is a great fan of electronic technologies) ... in this regard it seems that he said a joke to the RCA technicians such as: "it took me almost twenty years to get my musicians to go together and you want to share them? " (alluding to the stereo separation of the left and right channels) ...

[@glagolitic]

@@francesco65esposito No, it's not a "pseudo-stereo reprocessed monophonic recording" - it's a monophonic recording with a very mild level of mono-compatible "ambience" added to ease listening for headphones users.

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

@@glagolitic headphones viewers? This is 1952 might I remind you, they are using a stereophonic registry, two panels that gave you both hearing one part of it on the left, and another part of it on the right.

[@tinalettieri]

This makes me want to go to Rome and I dislike Rome.

[@michaelmcclary8054]

Toscanini had a terrible Reputation!!😢

[@lorenzosimpson8039]

'' bloody timebeater' Wilhelm Furtwängle

[@jeffreymiller4814]

lorenzo simpson I think Furtwängler actually may have said “f…king timebeater” as he walked out of the theater in disgust. I’ll take Furtwängler over AT in a heartbeat.

[@XMarkxyz]

@@jeffreymiller4814 you mean the one who played for the nazi regime while Toscanini exhiled himself rather than playing for Mussolini?

[@bevaconme]

@@XMarkxyz does toscanini's impeccable political integrity make him the superior conductor?

[@vjekop932]

@@jeffreymiller4814 Toscanini was objectively a far better conductor than Furtwangler, who is the most overrated of all time. Don't get me wrong, he was a great conductor with a genius vision for most works, but he could rarely get the orchestra to play for him correctly (unlike Toscanini), which is crucial in music. He is worthy of respect but his fanboys praise him like he is the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ.

[@vjekop932]

@@bevaconme no, but his conducting does.

[@onceamusician5408]

he utterly butchers the tempo of the final section the pines of the appian way To me his section, my favourite of the work is two march tempi put together, a quick march of a roman legion - the 4/4 tempo and the slow ceremonial march of an emperor or in the Forum. - half that tempo, a 2/2 It should have all the relentless inevitability of a legion coming with on none to stop them or the gravitas of high ceremonial. and this man accelerates???? I am quite sure there is no accelerando on the score. This is tempo giusto ALL THE WAY He turns it into a mad scramble and ruins it TOTALLY!!!!

[@jenkinsfamily2229]

Finale is way too fast, doesn't allow for the overwhelming majesty. Sounds almost panicked.

[@agostinolaperla809]

Che bel modo di dirigere

[@glagolitic]

Toscanini rarely dawdled, and this is definitely no exception... but I personally find that the finale gets "claggy" if taken too slowly - for me, this combination of first rate playing, tight ensemble, and quick tempo really, really works. :)

[@alexeyizmirliev64]

Fantastico!

[@michaelmcclary8054]

the Clarinet solo was played by my Best friend, John Scott, Professor Emeritus of Clarinet, University of North Texas

[@michaelmcclary8054]

the Clarinet solo was played by my Best friend, John Scott, Professor Emeritus of Clarinet, University of North Texas