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A Trove of Toscanini Belongings Heads to the Auction Block Treasures of Toscanini, Even a Piano, Are for Sale
(35 minutes later)
Descendants of the conductor Arturo Toscanini are auctioning off a trove of his possessions, including the maestro’s Steinway piano; letters from Verdi, Wagner, Strauss and other composers; rare sketches of Verdi’s “Falstaff”; a handwritten score of a Mendelssohn overture; and a self-caricature by Enrico Caruso. Descendants of the conductor Arturo Toscanini are auctioning off a trove of his possessions, including the maestro’s Steinway piano; letters from Verdi, Wagner, Strauss and other composers; rare sketches of Verdi’s “Falstaff”; a handwritten of a Mendelssohn overture; and a self-caricature by Enrico Caruso.
Much of the material has not come to light before, according to Sotheby’s, the house that will hold the auction on Nov. 28 in London, and the auctioneers estimated the cache to be worth at least $1.6 million. Some items will be on display at Sotheby’s in New York from Nov. 12 to 16.Much of the material has not come to light before, according to Sotheby’s, the house that will hold the auction on Nov. 28 in London, and the auctioneers estimated the cache to be worth at least $1.6 million. Some items will be on display at Sotheby’s in New York from Nov. 12 to 16.
The items were consigned by the family of the conductor’s grandson, Walfredo Toscanini, an architect who died on Dec. 31, and had mostly been in his house in New Rochelle, N.Y. His father was Walter Toscanini, the conductor’s son.The items were consigned by the family of the conductor’s grandson, Walfredo Toscanini, an architect who died on Dec. 31, and had mostly been in his house in New Rochelle, N.Y. His father was Walter Toscanini, the conductor’s son.
The matter consists of 88 lots and hundreds of items, but represents only a small portion of the material legacy of the conductor, who died in 1957 in New York at age 89. The family donated the bulk of his personal archive to the music division of the New York Public Library in 1987. The matter consists of 88 lots and hundreds of items, but represents only a small portion of the material legacy of the conductor, who died in 1957 in New York at 89. The family donated the bulk of his personal archive to the music division of the New York Public Library in 1987.
“This is the last substantial property that’s ever likely to come directly from Toscanini,” said Stephen Roe, the head of books and manuscripts worldwide for the auction house, which will earn revenues from the sale. “I think of him less as a collector, and more as someone who accumulated these things as trophies to mark various events in his life.”“This is the last substantial property that’s ever likely to come directly from Toscanini,” said Stephen Roe, the head of books and manuscripts worldwide for the auction house, which will earn revenues from the sale. “I think of him less as a collector, and more as someone who accumulated these things as trophies to mark various events in his life.”
Toscanini, he said, was a public person who was given a lot of gifts. “He treasured them,” Mr. Roe said.Toscanini, he said, was a public person who was given a lot of gifts. “He treasured them,” Mr. Roe said.
The official who oversees the New York Public Library’s Toscanini archive said he was disappointed the items were going to auction.The official who oversees the New York Public Library’s Toscanini archive said he was disappointed the items were going to auction.
“Most of this kind of stuff should always be given to a research library,” said Robert Kosovsky, the curator of rare books and manuscripts for the music division, who acknowledged the family has a right to raise money. “It’s a constant battle between monetary worth and scholarly worth,” he said. “Most of this kind of stuff should always be given to a research library,” said Robert Kosovsky, the curator of rare books and manuscripts for the music division, who acknowledged the family has a right to raise money. “It’s a constant battle between monetary worth and scholarly worth.”
The value to researchers, he said, was so far unknown. “You can’t put an estimate, because no one’s studied the stuff.” The value to researchers, he said, was so far unknown: “You can’t put an estimate, because no one’s studied the stuff.”
A list of the items coming up for auction shows something about Toscanini: his deep engagement with composers of his day, the affection — even veneration — other musicians felt toward him and the influence he held over the musical world for nearly seven decades.A list of the items coming up for auction shows something about Toscanini: his deep engagement with composers of his day, the affection — even veneration — other musicians felt toward him and the influence he held over the musical world for nearly seven decades.
One of the rarest items is the Mendelssohn autograph score, for the overture to “Die Schöne Melusine,” Op. 32, which Sotheby’s said had never been closely examined by scholars. It was a birthday present from the pianist Rudolf Serkin his wife, Irene, late in the life of Toscanini. One of the rarest items is the Mendelssohn autograph score, for the overture to “Die Schöne Melusine,” Op. 32, which Sotheby’s said had never been closely examined by scholars. It was a birthday present from the pianist Rudolf Serkin his wife, Irene, late Toscanini’s life. The sale of the Verdi sketches is important because most of Verdi’s working materials have stayed in the hands of his descendants in Italy or are in the archive of his publisher, Ricordi, in Milan, Mr. Roe said. The “Falstaff” autograph contains three sketches for the first 30 bars of the opera. It was given to Toscanini by a niece of Verdi.
The sale of the Verdi sketches is important because most of Verdi’s working materials have stayed in the hands of his descendants in Italy or are in the archive of his publisher, Ricordi, in Milan, Mr. Roe said. The “Falstaff” autograph contains three sketches for the first 30 bars of the opera. It was given to Toscanini by a niece of Verdi.
Other Verdi material include letters about “Stiffelio” and “Falstaff”; a letter excoriating a librettist, Francesco Maria Piave; an autograph manuscript of the “Ave Maria” chorus from his “Four Sacred Pieces,” along with notes and performance diagrams for the work; four visiting cards inscribed to Toscanini; and a congratulatory telegram dated March 19, 1899, for a Scala performance by Toscanini of “Falstaff.” “Grazie grazie grazie,” it reads.Other Verdi material include letters about “Stiffelio” and “Falstaff”; a letter excoriating a librettist, Francesco Maria Piave; an autograph manuscript of the “Ave Maria” chorus from his “Four Sacred Pieces,” along with notes and performance diagrams for the work; four visiting cards inscribed to Toscanini; and a congratulatory telegram dated March 19, 1899, for a Scala performance by Toscanini of “Falstaff.” “Grazie grazie grazie,” it reads.
A letter from Richard Strauss evokes Toscanini’s rejection of Fascism, including his refusal to conduct at Bayreuth or Salzburg when those cities came under Nazi control, and his opposition to Mussolini. Strauss, while awaiting de-Nazification after World War II, wrote to say he was touched by an upcoming performance of his “Death and Transfiguration” by Toscanini and the Orchestra of La Scala in Switzerland.A letter from Richard Strauss evokes Toscanini’s rejection of Fascism, including his refusal to conduct at Bayreuth or Salzburg when those cities came under Nazi control, and his opposition to Mussolini. Strauss, while awaiting de-Nazification after World War II, wrote to say he was touched by an upcoming performance of his “Death and Transfiguration” by Toscanini and the Orchestra of La Scala in Switzerland.
One lot contains 70 letters and visiting cards to Toscanini from leading musicians, including Barber, Puccini, Prokofiev, Kodaly and Klemperer. On the literary front, there are letters written by Giacomo Leopardi and six books by Gabriele d’Annunzio, which are signed by the author.One lot contains 70 letters and visiting cards to Toscanini from leading musicians, including Barber, Puccini, Prokofiev, Kodaly and Klemperer. On the literary front, there are letters written by Giacomo Leopardi and six books by Gabriele d’Annunzio, which are signed by the author.
A lighthearted, self-deprecating letter from Beethoven to the writer Johann Baptist Rupprecht about setting one of his poems to music is also up for auction.A lighthearted, self-deprecating letter from Beethoven to the writer Johann Baptist Rupprecht about setting one of his poems to music is also up for auction.
The Steinway, a Model D dating to 1910, was shipped from the factory in New York to Toscanini in Milan aboard the steamer Cincinnati Ohio the following year, according to Sotheby’s. It is in good condition and still playable, the auction house said.The Steinway, a Model D dating to 1910, was shipped from the factory in New York to Toscanini in Milan aboard the steamer Cincinnati Ohio the following year, according to Sotheby’s. It is in good condition and still playable, the auction house said.
Some of the maestro’s batons are also for sale, along with his desk set, leather music case and more than 30 autograph scores of his own compositions. “It’s light music, on the whole,” Mr. Roe said. Many of the pieces are unpublished.Some of the maestro’s batons are also for sale, along with his desk set, leather music case and more than 30 autograph scores of his own compositions. “It’s light music, on the whole,” Mr. Roe said. Many of the pieces are unpublished.