Maestro Riccardo Muti attended the presentation of a book dedicated to Arturo Toscanini, who conducted at the 1936 inauguration of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, at the time known as the ‘Palestine Symphony Orchestra’.
Maestro Muti, in a sort of virtual passing of the baton between Italian musicians, will conduct the concert at the city’s Bronfman Auditorium on next 20 December to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
As was recalled at the presentation by Harvey Sachs, the author of “Arturo Toscanini, uomo di grandissima dignità”, the Italian conductor, a proud anti-Fascist and anti-Nazi, immediately accepted the invitation to direct an orchestra comprising many renowned Jewish musicians who had fled from Hitler’s Germany. “Toscanini – he added – went to Palestine (at the time under British Mandate) at his own expense, honoured to direct the orchestra. He again directed it in 1938 when tension between Arabs and Jews had already broken out.”
At the presentation, organised by the Italian Cultural Institute in Tel Aviv, the Italian Ambassador, Francesco Maria Talò, said: “The arrival of Maestro Muti is another example of the dialogue and bridge-building relationship between Israel and Italy.” In the concert of 20 December, Muti will conduct the same pieces by Rossini, Brahms, Schubert, Mendelssohn and Weber, directed by Toscanini 80 years ago.
