This was the last time that Toscanini conducted music by Beethoven. There is some very fine playing by the orchestra and this is overall a memorable concert. Harvey Sachs wrote in his latest biography of Toscanini that the concert was not Toscanini's best, but I still find much in it to enjoy. It benefits from RCA's improvements in high fidelity recording. It's remarkable to learn that Toscanini's final two concerts, as well as the rehearsals, were recorded experimentally in stereo and we can now enjoy them in even better sound due to digital restorations. As far as I know, the orchestra didn't learn of Toscanini's decision to retire until after the April 4, 1954, concert. Karl Glassman has written about the sad and confusing news, especially when many had to turn in their instruments.
L'ultima emozionante Pastorale di Toscanini rivela una trasparenza orchestrale, un fraseggio, un lirismo e una forza espressiva stupefacenti! Ottima la ripresa del suono! Infinite grazie!
Some great playing here by the principal wind players of the NBC Symphony Orchestra, including Arthur Lora (flute), Paolo Renzi (oboe), Alexander Williams (clarinet), Leonard Sharrow (bassoon), and Arthur Berv (French horn). And how the strings sing in the "Pastorale" symphony! Thank you very much for sharing this gem of a concert (aside from the one off-stage bobble by one of the NBC trumpets in the "Leonore" Overture No. 2) with us!
The sound is quite good considering the fact that it was recorded from a live concert 66 years ago! The Maestro and the NBC were in command of their art considering the fact that he and the orchestra were aware that the end of the Maestro’s tenure was at hand. Thank you for issuing this invaluable document. TV
Il più giusto giudizio su Toscanini lo diede George Szell che pure non fu mai tenero nei suoi riguardi: con il suo modo di dirigere ha rivoluzionato tale arte, e dopo di lui nulla fu più come prima.
The "speaker," by the way, is Ben Grauer, who was the regular announcer/commentator for the NBC Symphony Orchestra radio broadcasts and telecasts in their last seasons.
Thank you for posting this! This was one of many concerts included on the lamented Sempre Toscanini channel. I hope you will also include some of the earlier Toscanini/NBC concerts. May I also put in a request for the cleaned-up version of the 1951 performance of the Beethoven fourth symphony? The playing on this all-Beethoven program is much better than the final two concerts, though the off stage trumpeter -- the great Harry Glantz -- makes a few flubs. Somewhere I remember reading a reminiscence by Karl Glassman, the NBCSO principal percussionist, about the time when the orchestra members were told that they were finished. Heartbreaking! Toscanini’s eyesight, by that time, was getting steadily worse (he had been in his early forties when he began experiencing problems with myopia). He could no longer learn new scores. He had wanted to do the Bach Second Brandenburg in his last season, but Glantz told him that he, Glantz, was no longer up to handling the difficult trumpet part. But it is good to have this performance back on RUclips.
It's good to have this post since the Sempre Toscanini posting of this concert was missing part of the 4th movement. Note that this was the last time Toscanini conducted Beethoven.
Sarah Jones you put a smile on my face. I understand your comment. In a way it's a matter of preference. There's a lot to learn from the great temperamental Maestro Toscanini. Perhaps you, like me, are too accustomed to the other great old Maestro, Bruno Walter. For me, it's hard to beat Walter's 6th.
A proposito di grandi direttori, volevo chiederti una cosa riguardo Franco Ferrara. Ripensavo alla sua interpretazione della 7ma sinfonia di Bruckner che funge da colonna sonora del film "Senso" di Visconti. La più grande interpretazione di questa sinfonia, superiore, per me a quella di Furtwangler. Sai se esiste, ed è stato mai pubblicato l'integrale di questa interpretazione?
Why a break in continuity between scherzo and storm? Toscanini himself would never have made one. And at the sustained note which is supposed to carry us into the finale? Could this be RUclips introducing a gap in which an ad can be squeezed?. The climaxes this, of all conductors, made need no help from engineers, and certainly not the ham-fisted one who recorded this. In some Toscanini broadcasts you almost feel you are in the orchestra yourself - but not here. Above mezzo forte all the sensitivity you can hear in his phrasing is trampled to death by technology. The gap between the last chord and the applause is vandalism, pure and simple.
😲😲😲😲❤
Each time I watch '' death to Venice'' I' m thinking to him😢
This was the last time that Toscanini conducted music by Beethoven. There is some very fine playing by the orchestra and this is overall a memorable concert. Harvey Sachs wrote in his latest biography of Toscanini that the concert was not Toscanini's best, but I still find much in it to enjoy. It benefits from RCA's improvements in high fidelity recording. It's remarkable to learn that Toscanini's final two concerts, as well as the rehearsals, were recorded experimentally in stereo and we can now enjoy them in even better sound due to digital restorations. As far as I know, the orchestra didn't learn of Toscanini's decision to retire until after the April 4, 1954, concert. Karl Glassman has written about the sad and confusing news, especially when many had to turn in their instruments.
Toscanini was a champion of Beethoven.
L'ultima emozionante Pastorale di Toscanini rivela una trasparenza orchestrale, un fraseggio, un lirismo e una forza espressiva stupefacenti! Ottima la ripresa del suono! Infinite grazie!
Some great playing here by the principal wind players of the NBC Symphony Orchestra, including Arthur Lora (flute), Paolo Renzi (oboe), Alexander Williams (clarinet), Leonard Sharrow (bassoon), and Arthur Berv (French horn). And how the strings sing in the "Pastorale" symphony!
Thank you very much for sharing this gem of a concert (aside from the one off-stage bobble by one of the NBC trumpets in the "Leonore" Overture No. 2) with us!
Hello Sir.I wonder why you have such a nickname.Jimmy Mc Cracken was a friend of mine...sorry for my curiosity,,.bye
leonard sharrow left nbc for chicago at the end of the 1951 season. the first bassoonist here is elias carmen.
The sound is quite good considering the fact that it was recorded from a live concert 66 years ago! The Maestro and the NBC were in command of their art considering the fact that he and the orchestra were aware that the end of the Maestro’s tenure was at hand. Thank you for issuing this invaluable document. TV
Agreed! Absolute magic!
Indimenticabile conduttore.
Il più giusto giudizio su Toscanini lo diede George Szell che pure non fu mai tenero nei suoi riguardi: con il suo modo di dirigere ha rivoluzionato tale arte, e dopo di lui nulla fu più come prima.
Toscanini era un grande, Szell un onesto professionista
Toscanini superlativo anche a 87 anni
00:00 speaker
00:29 Leonore No.2
14:47 applause
14:58 speaker
15:16 Symphony No.6 op.68 "Pastoral" - 1. Allegro ma non troppo
24:29 Andante molto mosso
36:31 Allegro
41:32 Sturm: Allegro
45:07 Allegretto
54:04 applause
54:53 speaker
The "speaker," by the way, is Ben Grauer, who was the regular announcer/commentator for the NBC Symphony Orchestra radio broadcasts and telecasts in their last seasons.
Thank you for posting this! This was one of many concerts included on the lamented Sempre Toscanini channel. I hope you will also include some of the earlier Toscanini/NBC concerts. May I also put in a request for the cleaned-up version of the 1951 performance of the Beethoven fourth symphony? The playing on this all-Beethoven program is much better than the final two concerts, though the off stage trumpeter -- the great Harry Glantz -- makes a few flubs. Somewhere I remember reading a reminiscence by Karl Glassman, the NBCSO principal percussionist, about the time when the orchestra members were told that they were finished. Heartbreaking! Toscanini’s eyesight, by that time, was getting steadily worse (he had been in his early forties when he began experiencing problems with myopia). He could no longer learn new scores. He had wanted to do the Bach Second Brandenburg in his last season, but Glantz told him that he, Glantz, was no longer up to handling the difficult trumpet part. But it is good to have this performance back on RUclips.
It's good to have this post since the Sempre Toscanini posting of this concert was missing part of the 4th movement. Note that this was the last time Toscanini conducted Beethoven.
🎶
Sarah Jones you put a smile on my face. I understand your comment. In a way it's a matter of preference. There's a lot to learn from the great temperamental Maestro Toscanini. Perhaps you, like me, are too accustomed to the other great old Maestro, Bruno Walter. For me, it's hard to beat Walter's 6th.
They were always shown as opposites.
A proposito di grandi direttori, volevo chiederti una cosa riguardo Franco Ferrara. Ripensavo alla sua interpretazione della 7ma sinfonia di Bruckner che funge da colonna sonora del film "Senso" di Visconti. La più grande interpretazione di questa sinfonia, superiore, per me a quella
di Furtwangler. Sai se esiste, ed è stato mai pubblicato l'integrale di questa interpretazione?
Giorgio Schiavo Lena purtroppo non esiste. Sopravvivono solo i frammenti usati nel film (che trovi nel mio canale)
@@goodmanmusica pazienza, peccato.
peccato davvero
Ma che bravi sti parmigiani....
Why a break in continuity between scherzo and storm? Toscanini himself would never have made one. And at the sustained note which is supposed to carry us into the finale? Could this be RUclips introducing a gap in which an ad can be squeezed?. The climaxes this, of all conductors, made need no help from engineers, and certainly not the ham-fisted one who recorded this. In some Toscanini broadcasts you almost feel you are in the orchestra yourself - but not here. Above mezzo forte all the sensitivity you can hear in his phrasing is trampled to death by technology. The gap between the last chord and the applause is vandalism, pure and simple.
Sound dreadful absolutely dreadful, tempi all over the place.
These statements do not agree with me at all
My dream to heard much more dreaful sound and off tempi like this !! One of the most sensitive Beethoven concert I ever heard...
@@admusicam3323 There is no accounting for bad taste , Toscanini on a very bad day despite age of this recording.
You are right: there is no accounting for bad taste...
@@admusicam3323 I am so glad that you agree..