Arturo Toscanini

Arturo Toscanini (1867–1957) was a distinguished Italian conductor widely regarded as one of the greatest maestros of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He began his musical career as a cellist before making an extraordinary conducting debut in 1886, when he stepped in as a last-minute substitute to conduct Verdi's Aida in São Paulo at just 19 years old. Following this success, he pursued conducting professionally, serving as principal conductor at Teatro alla Scala, Milano from 1898 to 1908.

Toscanini spent 1908–1915 at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York before returning to Europe. In 1926, he began a celebrated decade-long tenure with the New York Philharmonic, rapidly achieving international prominence. Despite early support for Benito Mussolini, Toscanini became a vocal opponent of fascism and famously refused to open concerts with the fascist anthem. Following a violent assault by Blackshirts in 1931, he fled Italy. He appeared at the Salzburg Festival (1934–1937) and conducted the Palestine Symphony Orchestra's inaugural concert in 1936.

In 1937, Toscanini accepted an invitation from RCA president David Sarnoff to lead the newly formed NBC Symphony Orchestra, where he remained for 17 years until his retirement in 1954. Throughout his career, he recorded extensively for RCA Victor, becoming an international household name. Toscanini was the father of choreographer Walter Toscanini and Wanda Toscanini, who married pianist Vladimir Horowitz.