Arturo Toscanini (b. 1867 Parma, Italy – d. 1957 NYC) was an Italian conductor and one of the most acclaimed musicians of the late 19th and of the 20th century, renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orchestral detail and sonority, and his eidetic memory. (Sachs, Harvey (1978). Toscanini. Da Capo Press)
Toscanini was the music director of La Scala in Milan (1898-1908), the Metropolitan Opera in New York (1908-15) and the New York Philharmonic (1928-36). Following his tenure with the NY Philharmonic, he was appointed the first music director of the NBC Symphony Orchestra (1937–54), which led to his becoming a household name (especially in the United States) through his radio and television broadcasts and many recordings of the operatic and symphonic repertoire.
Toscanini in Ridgefield
In September of 1947 and again in August of 1949, Toscanini brought his NBC Symphony Orchestra to Ridgefield to perform benefit concerts for the Ridgefield Library (1947 & 1949), Historical Association (1947) and Ridgefield Boys Club (1949). Both concerts were held in the (Old) Ridgefield High School auditorium and were completely sold out, with added seating and standing room. Ridgefield was one of only two towns of its size in which Maestro Toscanini ever agreed to conduct - the other being a small town in Italy for the 100th anniversary of the birth of Verdi. (Ridgefield Historical Society archives.)
Current Connection to the RSO
Toscanini's concerts in Ridgefield pre-dated the 1964 founding of the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra. However, as is often the case in the world of music, connections continue - even some 70 years later.
The RSO's season opening concert on October 7th will be conducted by Maestro Yuga Cohler. Cohler is one of four finalists for the RSO's Music Director position, but also one of four finalists in the 10th Edition of the renowned Arturo Toscanini International Conducting Competition, held in Parma, Italy under the patronage of the President of Italy. The initial field was narrowed from 160 conductors (required to be under the age of 34, and representing more than 30 countries) down to 12, who then took part in the first phase of the competition in late May. Subsequently Maestro Cohler was selected as one of the top four (and the only American) to participate in the finals of the competition, including concerts open to the public, in late October. He will return to Italy for those concerts following his appearance with the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra! Tickets for the RSO concert are available at www.ridgefieldsymphony.org