Wagner: Tannhauser: Overture, Conductor: Arturo Toscanini, NBC Symphony Orchestra

[@francescoc.371]

Allora, il grande vecchio ha detto che il direttore non deve inventarsi niente, nessuno effetto stupefacente, nessuna ammiccante magia, solo raggiungere (achieve). Quindi io credo a quello che suona e credo meno agli altri. Pure per me rimane stupefacente come riesca a fare cantare i singoli strumenti e con quale nitidezza. Nitidezza da CD disk, da incisione digitale per raccontarla da profano. Sono forse gli ultimi anni di vita. Tutto è incredibile. Sembra un Giuseppe Verdi uscito fuori dai suoi anni e venuto a dirigere un' orchestra moderna, dei nostri giorni, per farci capire come funzionano veramente le cose.

[@horaciobejar3056]

No hay palabras simplemente abrir los oídos.

[@marfi6497]

Bravissimo!

[@FedericoCasanova-m8i]

Forse era lui l'ubermensch

[@applecake122]

Something I like about Toscanini's interpretations is that you hear all the details.

[@otello90]

I think so, that's fantastic experience

[@ivanrivas9273]

9:37 first time I can Hear the violas/cellos

[@149renoir]

Se si ascolta questa ouverture del Tannhauser, diventa impossibile ascoltarne un altra versione talmente è perfetta . Questo era e sottolineo " era" , purtroppo , quello che l'Italia sapeva creare .

[@PaloXanthos]

A conductor is someone who has the rare gift of understanding complex music. Maestro Toscanini makes sure that this is visible to the audience in every performance.

[@johnschlesinger2009]

A fantastic performance. How did Toscanini achieve such immediacy? Perhaps one clue is that he doesn't "conduct in advance": every cue is very shortly before the desired entry. One can see how closely the orchestra follows him - their eyes constantly move from the score to the conductor. And I have no doubt that he commanded immense respect - he conducted a vast repertoire over a huge career totally from memory, from his very first conducting, as a last minute standin. A genius, definitely.

[@jhb134]

John Schlesinger - Perceptive post! Yes, it's as if AT(oscanin) and "his" NBC Symphony players were, AS ONE. It's the type of musical kinship that Szell/Cleveland, Reiner/Chicago and a very, few others had, IMO.

[@maurocoimbra9624]

He's the most amazing conductor of all times. Congratulations for your great observations! Greetings from Brazil. 🇧🇷

[@Decclesia1]

Mgnífica, dos genios unidos!!!!

[@violinalone]

Then.. why the hell do other conductor's baton way ahead? They have a great model (here) to just beat ~at~ time. Confusing why there is any other way... meh. I don't know anything about this stuff, but was always wondering what conductors were doing so ahead of things...

[@johnschlesinger2009]

@@jhb134Thanks for your observations. George Szell held Toscannini in high regard, and Szell made the Cleveland into a great orchestra. His "Jupiter" has been never been out of the catalogue, together with the G minor and E flat Mozart symphonies. His Tschiakowsky 4th is possibly the best ever. Szell was offered the NBC after Toscannini's death, but declined, saying that he belonged in Cleveland. The orchestra was disbanded after Toscannini's death.

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

**HOW FAR WE HAVE FALLEN!** Oh, the bygone days when network TV (NBC) had its own symphony orchestra! Back then, it was sincerely believed that TV had the potential to bring culture to the masses. *NOT ANY MORE...*

[@mose3]

@@freeassange8864 George Orwell: "All propaganda is lies, even when one is telling the truth. "

[@zinam5795]

,....This 's GREAT & E.Mravinsky was GREAT to in that overture...!!!

[@trapezemusic]

Television had such great potential but must be considered one of the great disappointments of our age. And that goes double for NBC.

[@joepalooka2145]

Toscanini showed everyone how to play Wagner, including the Germans. The first time he went to Germany he blew their minds. This is a stunning performance, even with the crappy sound, it's still the gold standard that all orchestras today try to achieve.

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

Alas, classical music is 99% dead in the USA. Symphony orchestras are barely scraping-by, while making payroll & benefits cuts for the players (never the managers!). The current head of the Metropolitan Opera remarked recently, "If there's no audience, then what's the point?" What's needed desperately for classical music is about a dozen **BRAND-NEW COMPOSERS** (not just the goofy Philip Glass) who can revolutionize its focus. For example, no real effort has *EVER* been made to fuse classical music with 1950's Rock 'N Roll, or Caribbean jazz. The film, "Mr. Holland's Opus" comes to mind: www.imdb.com/title/tt0113862/

[@davemiller7633]

@@CLASSICALFAN100 well you can thank our covid new world order Chicom commie climate hugging genderists for the destruction of all things good!

[@jackcrane7853]

@@CLASSICALFAN100 Americas greatest composer is ALAN HOVHANESS

[@margaritadubrovina7063]

@@CLASSICALFAN100

[@이정환-x7p]

This concert was more than 70 or 80 years ago. But Maestro Toscanini is still vivid and brilliant! No bady can do like Toscanini. Especially to the German Traditionalist, this perform will be new and shock. It is modern contemporary Wagner which will be with us very long time. Maestro is still wonderful in 21c. So powerful and enormous perform! Compare Karajan's last era's performance! He is become old man. Looks like very tired. But 80 year old Toscanini's batton is still young and energitic! Unbelievable!!

[@jackcrane7853]

This is cause he wasnt a nazi like Karajan, originally named KARAJANNIS, Greek, he hid his non arian name behind a more German sounding pseudonymous

[@warrenduffy1377]

Man said nazi

[@alanstrange1171]

As a trombonist and CSO subscriber, I admire everything about this stunning bravura performance. He clearly brings out the best in all his musicians and sections. His control of dynamics and tempi is simply magnificent. So thankful that we have these important performances. And yes, that NBC had such a grand orchestra and that general musical education was what it was is all to be lamented in its loss.

[@鈴木章子-x1h]

Toscaniniは偉大です!!　モティーフ・ラインを良く整理し､大編成オーケストラのダイナミックなワグナーワールドを時代を越えて見事に表出しています。永遠奏です👏✨🥇💝💖

[@rozenlev4460]

It was NAMELY TOSCANINI, who brought the authentic tempi's tradition to Bayreuth! Wagner could only dream about such a sonority!

[@LiliaAnauSmith]

?!?!?!?!?!

[@kohashiguchi1454]

I purchased my own turntable in 1973, and the first LP purchases I made were Toscanini on RCA Victrola. This performance of Tannhauser is how I first heard the piece---hasn't been equaled since :D

[@tonylamberti9623]

the master of conducting was the great TOSCANINI ..I can watch him for hours i have learned a lot about conducting from watching his videos..

[@karlwills3549]

this is the way it should be played absolute power ,the NBC were a great American orchestra

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

Back when culture was part of American life, and the networks knew it. Not like now...RIP

[@margaritadubrovina7063]

@@CLASSICALFAN100agree 100%

[@RonaldWilliams-rz6wp]

Some critics say that during this time of Toscanini that Italians can never conduct German music like Wagners because all of his lief motives were incomprehensible to them. However Mr. Toscanini broke the mold numerous times over and over. As an a aside, did one notice Frank Miller former CSO principal cellist forat least 3or for decades.

[@halross3447]

Frank Miller was Principal Cello with Chicago 1959-1985. He was principal with the NBC Symphony 1939-1954. He was considered an outstanding musician and section leader. It is compelling to watch him in this video, his eyes darting from the score to Toscanini.

[@RonaldWilliams-rz6wp]

@@halross3447 Yes. Frank and I were cordial friends throughout the 1980's and I really enjoy it when people appreciate him.

[@FedericoCasanova-m8i]

Wagner è nell'iperuranio, se lo ami ci sei anche tu

[@shin-i-chikozima]

This is a historical treasure

[@luigiarenna9946]

Sempre spettacolare, il maestro aveva proprio ogni singolo suono in testa.

[@nikiforosfokas6595]

Ladies and Gentleman, please put this unbelievable for human standards music at your earphones and go either at your garden or balcony all alone one silent winter late evening when sky will be partly lighted by moon while heavy clouds are slowly moving and leave your self looking this sky hearing this music...The unique feelings you will receive will be never forgotten not only to this life but surely also beyond of it...

[@fernandopasqualetti1845]

Cosa vuoi commentare...........questa è la perfezione :l'amalgama orchestrale la tempostica il colore del suono ne fanno una esecuzione perfetta !!!!!! Non si può presumere di ascoltare qualcosa di meglio !!!!!!!!

[@francescosammartano9446]

Maestro Toscanini sei stato e sarai sempre insuperabile!

[@mahmal4943]

Only one word can best describe this performance and that word is GENIUS !!!

[@loustikov]

Un très grand chef d'orchestre , peut-être le plus grand de tous, très près du ''texte, sans fioriture et interprétation personnelle hasardeuse.

[@МихаилХристов-л6г]

Of course, Wagner could only dream about such a realization of this score!

[@andream.464]

He often had Liszt conducing! But for sure orchestras we’re nowhere near this level!

[@bonjour4196]

I agree...

[@schulze0]

Grandios, ein Rausch, unvergleichlich. Gegen Toscanini sind alle anderen müde Stümper.

[@manouchehr7]

Nobody can discredit the immense beauty and great richness of this music ❤❤❤

[@mauricisilva874]

Toscanini parece criar um universo próprio com a sua regência, Fantástico!!!

[@margaritadubrovina7063]

Breathing!!! Unforgettable performance, just perfect! ❤

[@vincenzoaccardo3976]

Stupefacente per la perfetta! sincronia !!!

[@silviacervellati4290]

Arturo Toscanini continua ad essere il mio preferito per ogni esecuzione. Wagner sublime. Peccato la registrazione sia sciupata a tratti da rumori in sottofondo.

[@angelosilva4051]

Assolutamente mitico insuperabile!

[@karpabla]

What to say? This video is gold for many things. Toscanini, a historical figure not very different in stature to the composers he interpreted. Bravo.

[@adriancook7078]

The only person in the world who can turn this into music. The only one. It is the first time in my life I have heard the cymbals crash like cymbals. So it is true then that there are only 3 conductors: Toscanini, Toscanini and Toscanini

[@jackcrane7853]

He was a MAGICIAN playing conductor...

[@antoninomarullo8468]

Interpretazione straordinaria e insuperabile

[@bobthompson551]

This brilliant interpretation illustrates the conductor's importance. Toscanini has complete control. There is much variation in the loudness/softness of the volume. (Ok I'm not a musician, don't know the terminology). Toscanini controls it perfectly, especially near the beginning, which Solti and Abbado play without variation in the volume. Also, there is a woodwind solo near the middle.played by the clarinet in the Solti and Abbado performances. Toscanini uses the oboe. I love this performance. I'm an old Brahms fan, but I think Toscanini and Wagner shine brilliantly here.n

[@bobthompson551]

I'm not sure that's an oboe. I think it's a clarinet playing high notes. Anyhow, I enjoy watching Toscanini' s control over the orchestra. At one point I'm sure he is saying something to the strings on his right.

[@frereM]

I was born in 1950. One of my most vivid memories is of Toscanini conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra on Sunday afternoons on a TV that often had difficulty with reception in western Iowa. Whether these were actual live broadcasts or rebroadcasts from earlier years, I do not recall, of course. But I do clearly remember the images of this extraordinary man and the power of the performances, even at so young an age. I hope that these performances remain available for all time.

[@richardschewel3674]

It was Toscanini original intention to become a composer it was the music of Vagner that convinced him otherwise Richard

[@TheSason666]

Thank you very much indeed for sharing your memories about American TV in the 50s !!! I'm from Ukraine.

[@nicolasvanpoucke.pianist]

That crescendo from 2:04...!

[@annalatter7098]

the best conductor GOD ever created.

[@veikkohiiri1093]

Well, great played music. Toscanini makes architecture very well. But Arturos conducting marks are quite simply and like metronome

[@annalatter7098]

@Luigi Raimondo Pomo yes all great conductors i agree. i just love ARTURO.

[@lellafranchini6970]

Vederlo dirigere e celestiale Grazie Maestro

[@Вечнаявесна-э7м]

Karajan is just a street kid. This performance already goes beyond mere music. It is perfect beauty and truth

[@jchomedog2887]

I think Karajan created one of the best sounding orchestras and he always observed all the little details and nuances in the score. They’re both great in their own right.

[@TheSason666]

Wow! Thank you very much for sharing it with us here! I'm from Ukraine.

[@JamesDean-ow7qo]

Thank you for this look back. I enjoyed this performance!

[@joedeegan3870]

Ormandy and Stokowski understood better than any other Conductors the importance of the actual sound reaching the ears of the listener.

[@GennaroIodice-yf3kv]

... allora è vero, è il migliore di sempre. Incredibile, ho la pelle d'oca.

[@bonjour4196]

Anch'io, amico...

[@MXDelfos]

Sad that the maestro was very old already, and performances of this era shows more or less rigidity... But I would like to hear his Wagner in more youthful years.... Must have been mind blowing!

[@fmusumeci316]

Toscanini, Toscanini, Toscanini!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Unico. Chiarezza, incisività, ritmo, dolcezza. Musica vera Musica

[@renato45222]

Beh, si tratta di un autentico genio dell'intera storia della direzione d'orchestra e, in senso lato, dell'interpretazione musicale. Le emozioni, gli scuotimenti interiori, l'estasi che riesce a suscitare Arturo Toscanini in ogni sua esecuzione sono riscontrabili in pochissimi altri interpeti della storia della musica (Wilhelm Furtwangler in primis). E' un po' vergognoso - come, d'altronde molte altre cose italiane - che l'Italia di oggi non riesca a commemorarlo degnamente, neanche nel 150° della nascita, caduto nel 2017. Ah.......beh, dimenticavo: per i nostri ridicoli e mafiosi burocrati un 150° non è cadenza contemplata per le commemorazioni. Non parliamo poi delle scuole e dei conservatori, scuole e conservatori che dovrebbero tramandare la sua figura splendida di uomo e di artista costantemente. Ah già, che sbadato..........: dobbiamo in fretta cancellare tutta la nostra identità etnico-culturale, ce lo chiede il neoliberismo sovranazionale criminale.

[@antonellam3213]

+renato45222 se il figlio di Wagner preferiva Toscanini a Furtwangler ci sarà pure un motivo. Tutti grandi artisti, ma il genio non si discute.

[@atsumoritokyo1101]

Stunning sculpture.

[@carlodotti9210]

il piu' grande interprete di tutta la musica classica ed operistica ancora oggi irraggiungibile w toscanini

[@yaelpalombo4604]

❤❤❤❤❤ non ho parole, m’inchino

[@eliozappulla818]

Toscanini- che genio!

[@giuseppesimone3559]

Immenso Wagner, immenso Toscanini

[@Seahawkfan1108]

12:14 Thought a fucking wasp flew past my ear 🐝👂

[@theingabo212]

LOL YH

[@svetlana5921]

Прекрасный дирижёр и сильный человек! Как хорошо, что я узнала о нем!) Благодаря таким людям, больше любишь жизнь)

[@johnfalstaff2270]

Zgadzam sie Svietlana. Ale mozesz pisac po angielsku.

[@svetlana5921]

@@johnfalstaff2270 вы это что написали? Не поняла

[@johnfalstaff2270]

@@svetlana5921, do not pretend you did not understand. It very easy to find it out.

[@guovanni]

Giovanni vitolo assistere ad una esecuzione di qualcosa che lui dirige È un incanto ,io impazzisco quando Lo vedo dirigere,maestro devi vivere In eterno.

[@genekelly8467]

The quality of the recording (1940s) is superb!

[@dimitramina9875]

Grande maestro!!!;;;!;!!!!!!!❤️

[@guovanni]

Il maestro Toscanini non era solo un grande maestro d'orchestra ma era anche un grande conoscitore di. Ogni singola nota scritta dal compositore. e applicava alla lettera cio' che ilcompositore aveva scritto.

[@Matteo-ip8tx]

Maestro! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@giovannisuma5769]

Indimenticabile ed eccezionale maestro

[@martinlavoie705]

Sublime!

[@SuperAbisal]

The Best of Wagner and Arturo

[@修-x6r]

I agree with you!

[@AntQuick1102]

awesome conductor

[@michaelcole6062]

Heartbreaking it's so beautiful

[@richardzuelch375]

Arturo Toscanini (1867-1957), This film is probably from NBC's Studio 8H in New York, probably from the 1940s.

[@のざわけんじ-f6t]

凄い！！こんな白黒の動画はとても貴重じゃないか！？

[@johnfalstaff2270]

It was great. I do not recall any German conductor who conducted Wagner music with bigger spirit than Toscanini. I did not hear Bruno Walter yet...

[@anjalialaniz]

FURTWAENGLER

[@johnfalstaff2270]

@@anjalialaniz, he is too pathetic to my taste.

[@anjalialaniz]

@@johnfalstaff2270 As a man ,certainly not! He was no real Nazi at all! As a musician and conductor certainly not, either! Rubbish!

[@johnfalstaff2270]

@@anjalialaniz, everybody is entitled to express his/her own opinion. Why did you mention Furtwaengler if you despise him?

[@anjalialaniz]

@@johnfalstaff2270 Obviously people are entitled to their opinions. Where do I indicate that I believe otherwise? I am sharing my OWN opinion that Maestro Furtwangler conducts Wagner just as competently as Toscanini. Where, pray tell, do I disparage Furtwangler? Is it not self-evident based on my commentary that I admire, rather than despise, Furtwangler? FFS! YOU say he is pathetic and you claim that --I-- "despise" him?

[@michaelcole6062]

Beautiful crescendo.

[@krasimirivanov9153]

Now THAT is how Wangermust be peroformed!

[@zinam5795]

WAGNER must.... absolutely!

[@guilheinaalecrim8342]

Um deslumbrante espetáculo

[@robarnum7180]

THIS is definitely studio 8H! look at it. I've seen the tv concerts from 8H and that is 8H! I believe it is from a dec. 1948 concert. same concert had Mozart symphony 40 and Dvorak symphonic variations! just thought I'd tell you.

[@gabrielthissen3280]

thanks you Rob but whatever studio I am on cloud9 here anyway :)

[@ricardonascimento6020]

Melhor que Karajan!!! Incrível!!!!!

[@МихаилХристов-л6г]

Оf course, my friend, of course! 100 times better of all others!

[@lubovbarannikova5945]

Великое исполнение!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@angelitalegion6165]

Lo.que.me.llamo.la.atencion.de.Toscanini.son.LAS.MANOS.PARECE.QUE.VOLARAN.maravllosa.interpretacion.de.Tannhauser..

[@wardropper]

Astonishing that sound quality like this has survived into 2023 and can still give such pleasure to those millions who would love to have heard Toscanini's interpretations live. Thank you!

[@stephenlang3135]

A true master of his art

[@giovannisora4734]

Km avanti nella storia dell'interpretazione.

[@camplone1]

Non sono mai stato un appassionato di Wagner, ma diretto da TOSCANINI .......è ben altra cosa!

[@fuga9]

모든 곡을 암보로 머리에 넣고 지휘했던 역사상 가장 위대했던 첼리스트 출신의 마에스트로 단순하면도 힘찬 명료한 지휘로 단원의 최고의 연주를 끄집어내던 강력한 지휘자

[@andrasmajer1197]

Wonderful !!!!!

[@charlie_charldon]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems as though he slows down the tempo at the climactic parts (eg 6:20), and it makes all the difference. It just adds to the uniqueness of his interpretation. ✨

[@gabrielthissen3280]

look at the cello player at 12:07...happiness

[@charleslayton9463]

Heheh, I was looking to see if anyone caught that look between the two cellists at 12:06. I'd bet that Maestro did something that caught their funnybones. Probably gave the stinkeye to someone. Toscanini was not shy about letting his musicians know when they had screwed up.

[@mariaceciliaalessio]

EXTRAORDINARIO!!!!

[@gregorkrause]

12:55 "return my love" lol from "What's opera doc.

[@timothymacdonnell9079]

Awesome

[@senhueichen3062]

Super!!!!!!!

[@ljiljanastanic9076]

Great!!!💙💙💗💙💙💗💙💙💗💕💕

[@nigeldeforrest-pearce8084]

Brilliant!!!!

[@germanquintero10121946]

MARAVILLOSO

[@ivanbeshkov1718]

My noisy neighbors should be blasting this on their ghetto-blaster. They probably never heard it.

[@hosseinomidi5244]

bella armonica complementare

[@НаталияАкинина-с1ю]

Супер!!!! Все понастоящему...!!!В оркестре нет ни одной женщины!!!Ха,это доказывает,что настоящее дело в искусстве принадлежит мужикам!!!

[@svetlana5921]

Это ничего не доказывает. В его оркестрах играли и женщины. Прочитайте биографию. Очень интересно.

[@arteguey]

It's a pity that Toscanini never received a decent quality recording...

[@leestamm3187]

There are a number of fairly good quality mono recordings of Toscanini performances available on KZbin. Too many of his recordings, including the filmed ones like this, were done in the horribly dry, closet-like acoustics of NBC Studio 8H, possibly the worst ever venue for an orchestra performance. For better sound, look for ones recorded in Carnegie Hall, or other actual concert halls, which provide vastly better sonics.

[@arteguey]

@@leestamm3187 Thanks for your kind answer

[@BalbirSingh-gr2qk]

Towering Toscanini.

[@paolograndinetti7609]

che data la registrazione?

[@martinfinkelman6121]

Wow!! Those Berv’s!!!

[@jamesmalone1680]

Epic

[@lyndaproper1313]

As I listen I am inspired to remember Alexei Navalny and the magnificent spirit of humanity. May God bless him. Died 2/16/2024

[@bonjour4196]

Thanks for Navalny...

[@observatory87]

Would this performance be around 1950?

[@wellingtoncardoso3956]

Belíssimo!

[@douglasmurphy9127]

sheer mastery wagner would have approved no doubt

[@christinecampana1809]

Wondering what yr this is from? How old was Toscanini here? I'm 72. First time seeing this. ❤

[@yaelpalombo4093]

💖💖💖🌹🙏