The Letters of Arturo Toscanini Book

Toscanini (1867-1957), one of the most celebrated conductors in musical history, raised the standards of orchestras and opera ensembles to great heights. He conducted the world premieres of Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci" and Puccini's "La Boheme" and "Turandot". Yet he never wrote a memoir or granted interviews. Now we are brought close to him in 700 vivid and impassioned letters, the vast majority of them previously unpublished. There is fascinating correspondence with his wife and children, but even more interesting are the letters concerning his tempestuous affairs and erotic adventures. He writes with particular vehemence about his opposition to Fascism, Nazism and Mussolini: "You won't find [anyone] who is more of a delinquent, more of a criminal than that ignoble animal!" Vivid and impassioned, the letters reveal the depth of his musical knowledge and insight, and shed light on the musical life of his time.