Arturo Toscanini

Profession: Cellist and Conductor

Biography: Arturo Toscanini was an Italian conductor, renowned as one of the greatest of his generation. He was the music director of La Scala in Milan and the New York Philarmonic, as well as the first music director for the NBC Symphony Orchestra (1937-54).

Toscanini began as a cellist in the orchestra for a touring opera company. During a tour of South America, he found himself conducting by chance after an internal dispute within the company foisted the baton upon him. His success in this performance led to his conducting to acclaim for the whole season.

Subsequently Toscanini earned further renown upon returning to Italy, with the result that in 1898 he was the principal conductor at La Scala where he would later return as music director. His career then took him to the United States, where he joined the Metropolitan Opera.

Toscanini was fortunate for his fame when tensions with the Italian regime of Benito Mussolini led to his being surveilled and having his passport confiscated. International attention provided for his flight to the United States, where he would go to enduring fame in the NBC Symphony Orchestra.

Born: March 25, 1867
Birthplace: Parma, Kingdom of Italy
Star Sign: Aries

Died: January 16, 1957 (aged 89)
Cause of Death: Stroke